(July 31, 2008) 

A boy named Yao Ming was born in Shanghai's sixth hospital,September 12,1980. No one would have predicted that the child would grow into a 2.26m giant and be selected to play in the NBA, becoming an international superstar.

Yao Ming received his first formal basketball training at age nine in a youth sports school.

Excellent performances in the Chinese Men's Basketball League got a young Yao Ming into China's national youth team and then China's national basketball team. In the 98-99 season, he was awarded the most progressive player in Chinese Men's Basketball. In 2000, he was awarded the world's most promising athlete Award by ESPN and selected to participate in the Sydney Olympic Games.

In 2002,Yao Ming helped Shanghai Oriental Club to win the CBA Finals.

It was a historic moment for both Yao ming and Chinese basketball when he was selected by Houston as the first overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and signed with them on October 21, 2002, to become only the third Chinese basketball player in NBA after Wang Zhizhi and Bateer.