Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. He was the tallest active player in the NBA measuring 2.29 meters (7 ft. 6 in.)!
After negotiating with the Chinese Basketball Association and his team to secure his release, Yao was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. Yao announced his retirement from professional basketball due to a series of foot and ankle injuries which forced him to miss more than 250 games in his last six seasons.
Yao Ming had a hard time trying to get to the NBA, especially since China would not let Yao Ming go to the NBA unless he was drafted first overall! However the Houston Rockets accepted their demand and drafted him first!
Yao is one of China’s best-known athletes, with sponsorships with several major companies, and he is also one of the most famous memes around the web!