Yao Ming is a retired Chinese basketball player who is best known for his time in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. Standing at 7 feet 6 inches tall, he was one of the tallest players in the league and used his height to dominate on the court. Yao was selected as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft and quickly became a star, earning multiple All-Star selections during his career. After retiring in 2011 due to injuries, Yao became a prominent figure in promoting basketball in China and around the world. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, recognizing his impact on the sport and his contributions to bridging cultures through basketball.