Yao Ming is probably China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and for the Houston Rockets in the United States. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 meters. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.

Yao Ming was born in Shanghai on September 21, 1980. His mother was the center and captain of the Chinese National Women’s Team. His father played basketball, too.

Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ever to be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.

He is a huge success in the United States and has signed many major sponsorship deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against his fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in, making it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for China’s national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come true”. He also does a great deal for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.

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