The newly inducted NBA Hall of Fame Yao Ming will receive another acknowledgement for NBA his career. Houston Rockets plan to retire his number 11 jersey to honor his dedication and hard work.
In a 9-year of his NBA career, Yao only played for Houston Rockets until he retired in 2011. His stellar performance career in Houston has earned him the place in NBA Hall of Fame last week. Furthermore, the Rockets plan to retire his jersey.
The news Houston Rockets plan to retire Yao's jersey was first reported by China Radio International, that cited the report from China's Basketball Pioneers newspaper. Houston Rockets is reported to retire Yao's No. 11 jersey at the early next year, in the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in January.
Yao was drafted in the 2002 by Houston Rockets in the first pick. The 7'6" center became hot topic as he was the first Asian player to play in the NBA, and many people predicted him will fail in the NBA career.
But Yao proved otherwise in his first season with Rockets. He was even able to outmatch Shaquille O'Neal, who made fun of him during one interview. In a game against LA Lakers, Yao blocked O'Neal twice and made 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
In his first NBA season, he received more voting from fans than O'Neal in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game ballot, so he is eligible to become starter. That made him the second rookie who became starter for All-Star Game after Grant Hill in 1995.
Yao continued his stellar NBA career with Houston Rockets. After years of injury plagued his career, Yao announced his retirement from basketball in 2011 after seven years stint in the NBA.
Previously, as reported by CBS Houston, the Rockets owner Les Alexander planned to retire Yao's jersey. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle in 2012, Alexander said the organization planned to retire Yao's jersey sometime. That sometime will happen January next year.
