The Story Behind Yao Ming

An indelible figure and bona fide icon whose jaw-dropping size, immense talent, and incredible popularity pushed the NBA to new frontiers, paved the way for a generation of international superstars, and ultimately solidified basketball as a truly global sport.
Written & Narrated by: Jonah Birenbaum (@Birenball | Twitter)
Produced & Edited By: Zack Underhill (@ZackUnderhill | Instagram)
Thumbnail Design by: Justin Shipley (@shipleysportstudio | Instagram)
Courtesy List: controlc.com/867f81e4
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#YaoMing #HoustonRockets #NBA

[@MannyMensah94]

Yao was a very good player. Unfortunately, injuries derailed him. I'm Happy that he's in hall of fame ...

[@quincybryant5231]

His personality was everything.

[@sunflash101]

Despite having his professional career cut short due to injuries that were entirely out of his control, Yao Ming will go down as one of the most influential figures in NBA history. His career single handedly allowed the NBA to grow into the league they are and all the massive contracts these new stars are signing are a direct result of Yao opening the NBA to the Chinese market.

[@fcemonster]

NBA players should thank him for their ridiculously enormous contract/salary.

[@billblaski9523]

Think about this: Shaq was in the NBA for like what 8, 9 years before Yao. But they both got inducted into the Hall of Fame the same year!

[@newagestudios408]

As a Rockets fan i still wonder what if T Mac and Yao could’ve stayed healthy for a long period of time together

[@anthonymorales5482]

Yup. Man that 08-09 Rockets team should’ve been the one to go all they way

[@lexluthor4156]

Embiid played 158 games in his first 3, Zion played 85. Yao played 244 games Imagine If the Rockets had nourished Yao like what the NBA is doing today for all the high pick "abnormal "body type rookies (nutrition, bodybuilding, and training). We may have another ring or at least a much, much better built arena if you know what I mean. But no, had to grab that quick cash and play him all but two games in his first three years... An ultra-tall kid from a third world county (China's GDP was less than 1/10 of today).

[@billblaski9523]

Ironically, the farthest Houston ever made it in the playoffs were when Yao and T-Mac were injured

[@laod7192]

I think the real issue is that T-mac never proved himself outside his mixtape.

[@edp2506]

@@anthonymorales5482 Steve Francis had good chemistry with Yao as well. and if he(Francis) didn't start to have injuries, that guy is electric too.

[@amricktuapen4612]

Very Underrated Channel... Keep up the good work guys

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Yao Ming in his prime UNSTOPPABLE 🔥🔥🔥

[@hectorlopez1069]

But, he wasn't unstoppable in the playoffs, he didn't get past the first round until 2009 when he eliminated the trailblazers.

[@evanmejia269]

I’m honestly shocked you don’t have more subscribers. U make great and detailed videos. Love the content 👍🏼

[@StayINCheck]

Mom 6’3 is crazzzyyy😮‍💨no wonder he ended up 7ft+

[@Albert8044]

Yao Ming made his NBA rookie season debut during an era of shutdown team defense and he fit in nicely as a big man Center and it didn't take him long to adjust.

[@hectorlopez1069]

He should have won the rookie of the year award, but it went to Amare Stoudemire.

[@iamidnight9731]

Finally a Yao story.👍

[@dreamshake2710]

Great video, quality content. I loved watching Yao live, there will never be another player like him.

[@hectorlopez1069]

He was fun to watch in basketball. He had one of the sweetest shots ever for a 7'6 center.

[@lmp9726]

Very well-done video and reporting. Yao was a monster.

[@reb349]

If he was coming into the league now, I believe Yao would have had a longer career. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt as he wouldn't have needed to pack as much weight. He always had a good jumpshot so if he was encouraged to shoot 3s I imagine he would have been able to do it.

[@hectorlopez1069]

He was not good at shooting 3s in his career. He was 2-10 from the three point line.

[@reb349]

@Hector Lopez different era and he never trained for it. But he making jumpers 20 feet out at quite a decent clip. If he was actually trained to shoot 3s he might have done much better

[@JiTiAr35]

Thank you Rockets for taking care of one of the most iconic NBA players ever.

[@paulrenteria9417]

The 2nd best Houston Rocket in my eyes, only behind The Dream... Yao was a sight to see play... Really miss that guy.... There's not a doubt in my mind that if he never got plagued by injuries, he would've been one of the best of all time... Thanks for all the special moments Yao🤘🏼🚀🤘🏼🚀🤘🏼🚀

[@lexluthor4156]

Embiid played 158 games in his first 3, Zion played 85. Yao played 244 games If the Rockets had nourished Yao like what the NBA is doing today for all the high draw pick rookie (nutrition, bodybuilding, and training), maybe we may have a ring, at least a much, much well build arena if you know what I meant. But no, had to grab that quick cash and play him all but two games in his first three years... An ultra-tall kid from a third world county (China's GDP was less than 1/10 of today).

[@justinrussell851]

Great tribute video to Yao.

[@ceufrscio707]

Legend

[@XabzintheNBAGuru]

Unguardable🤝🤞

[@midnightmonkey92]

There’s more people playing basketball in China than there are American people in general. Mind blowing.

[@jonathanlindqvist2328]

Uhm no way

[@hrishirao4152]

@@jonathanlindqvist2328 1.4 billion people in china 2/7 playing basketball is not that crazy

[@Garnopolis]

Literally not true.

[@abouttime2569]

@@jonathanlindqvist2328 Just googled it. More than 300 million Chinese people play basketball. U.S. population is 330 million. It is unclear that there are more Chinese playing basketball than the U.S. population but you can't say it is untrue.

[@abouttime2569]

@@Garnopolis Just googled it. More than 300 million Chinese people play basketball. U.S. population is 330 million. It is unclear that there are more Chinese playing basketball than the U.S. population but you can't say it is untrue.

[@pzooka]

One of the best true 7 footers the NBA has ever seen

[@hectorlopez1069]

Especially in a foreign country like China

[@seyahtan24]

He still made the HoF though and his 2009 rockets squad would've probably made it all the way if it wasn't for Kobe and the Lakers. I remember they took em to game 7. A big W of a career.

[@josephgabrielbautista3149]

If Yao wasn't injured on their series against the lakers on 09, it might have been Yao v Dwight in the 09 Finals

[@joeymini6556]

@@josephgabrielbautista3149 Rockets will win vs Orlando at that time. Lakers easily win againts Orlando 4-1 and have a much harder times agiants Rockets. Dwight never outscored Yao in any games so I think Rockets will win 09

[@vickpanchal5559]

@@joeymini6556 Yeah the Rockets win a title in this scenario even without Mcgrady. Dwight was always heavily reliant on his athleticism and Yao would have swatted every attempt at the rim, completely dismantling Van Gundy's inside out offense.

[@amplesstratleholm7609]

Yao went in the HoF as a contributor, but he definitely has the talent to get in as a HoF player. Sucks that injuries took that away from him.

[@high-defRJ]

The impact that Yao Ming left is one of the best ever, if not as one of the top influential players in NBA history. Drafted at number one, and also be a focal point of the team, and be one of the best in the league - and being a HOFer, Yao helped shatter some of the stereotypes of Asians in western culture. When the league has been predominantly white/black since it's early years, it's still going to be rare to find that next star who is of a full-blooded Asian descent and looks like Yao who can be multi-All Star with All-NBA talent with a chance of being drafted atop of a draft. Yao is once in a generation talent, glad to have seen him play and root for Yao and the Rockets whenever they were on nationally televised game.

[@loseyourself6881]

Early gang who's here?

[@pioneerlmx2900]

we here brodie!

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

Earlier than a Mike D’Antoni play on the shot clock!

[@cams2kk]

momma yao is badass

[@edp2506]

😁 in a loving way.

[@smolaether]

Damn injuries, he could’ve been an all time great if his feet and legs held up.

[@hectorlopez1069]

It is sad he didn't take care of his legs and feet.

[@davidli7286]

my dawg

[@KidBakz]

One of the few centers Shaq had a problem with, hate that he had a short career but still better than the centers today

[@billblaski9523]

Dawg, that first game they played against each other, that first 3, 4 minutes where Yao blocked Shaq 3 times and scored 6 points was wild! That Houston crowd was rocking!

[@freeguy3751]

I appreciate the video, I've always wondered why Yao retired so early. I have to disagree though that Yao is the guy who gets the most credit for paving the way for international stars. Dirk Nowitzki deserves the most credit.

[@eternalsnowman8217]

3:46 is Japanese not Chinese, but great video!

[@grahamn4687]

They really broke the thesaurus out for this one huh

[@Space_Ache]

Nothing but respect for the Little Giant.

[@markreyna4209]

Yao had so much potential, sad injuries ruined his career.

[@hectorlopez1069]

Injuries stopped him from winning the league MVP Award.

[@Zikoom]

If he didn’t get worked so hard by China in the off season he would be one of the greats

[@billblaski9523]

Exactly, we all forget after the NBA season, he had to back to China and play on their national team during the summers. He was basically playing basketball all year his 1st three years

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Jaylen Brown next video theScore 🙏🙏🙏

[@becraftcorey]

killing me, the great wall lmao. could never get away with that in modern times.

[@GunnGunn10]

Internet legend as well

[@migo3841]

pioneer slim big man yaoming

[@oicmacbens8788]

would have loved to see him healthy all throughout his career and enjoyed his immense talent.

[@nagisakowrau]

That Chicago sign the fan held up was Japanese btw

[@4fawksake707]

it's crazy, Chinese Gov't milked Yao's earnings.. smfh

[@masquerade41120]

US govt takes almost 50% of nba salary right off the bat. sure, chinese govt swoops in for another 20% seems excessive, but it's not the only one doing it.

[@FullAznBlood]

Take a shot everytime he says Yao

[@meegs699]

Y’all might wanna hire a few Chinese people before finishing the edit, 3 second frame if a Japanese poster is mad funny

[@yikuanli]

The sign in the photo at 3:42 is Japanese. Not sure how that fits with the narrative…

[@renzodegrano7943]

When are y'all gonna do the story of dirk?

[@spencerkirkey9500]

Yo Eduardo Najera was jacked af

[@kenjischroeder5062]

3:44 did they really use a Japanese sign as a way to show the growing popularity of basketball in China? Uneducated af

[@hectorlopez1069]

His mom and dad were professional basketball players in their home country of China. China is a country with a deep love of basketball.

[@flack2998]

10:14 “ITS MING TIME” *wears lakers jersey*

[@lexluthor4156]

Embiid played 158 games in his first 3, Zion played 85. Yao played 244 games Imagine If the Rockets had nourished Yao like what the NBA is doing today for all the high pick "abnormal "body type rookies (nutrition, bodybuilding, and training). We may have another ring or at least a much, much better built arena if you know what I mean. But no, had to grab that quick cash and play him all but two games in his first three years... An ultra-tall kid from a third world county (China's GDP was less than 1/10 of today).

[@jrsdt2ndaccount30]

But wtf is that contract with the government…

[@lifeonthelake4367]

Ask enes kanter

[@paulyiustravelogue]

Yao got skills, there is no doubt about it. However, IMHO his conditioning early on, and than later health failed him.

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

4:04 Wang Zhizhi

[@real4life335]

dum-bass channel really showed japanese words/fans LMFAO

[@BraedonLinks]

Love the videos, but we gotta do better on pronouncing Chinese names. Like 1 in 10 of Toronto is Chinese, and so probably 1 in 20 is a native Mandarin speaker. Wouldn't hurt to get some direction on how to pronounce names. Still better than most I guess.

[@hectorlopez1069]

The NBA got so big in China once he was drafted by the rockets in the number 1 pick in the 2002 NBA draft.

[@billblaski9523]

Lol a bunch of his Rockets teammates got shoe deals in China just cus of how much they were on TV in China

[@al-nur999]

Yao is way to big for his talent. He's on pace on becoming one of the greatest centers ever if not for injuries.

[@Max.Hartmann]

Yea he was literally "breeded" for Basketball. What you forget to mention is that his parents were forced to marry b Chinese Communist Party. They were from totally different parts from China. Was no coincidence that the tallest Chinese baller marries tallest female baller of China. He had to train all and every day from childhood on, he once said he actually didnt like Basketball when he was young. Still many people claim the NBA somehow "invented" Yao to make money in China, but no it was other way round. China breeded him to boost CBA's reputation.

[@ray101892]

Being that tall certainly puts more pressure on the knees and ankles but I wonder how much conditioning played a part on his fragility. Chinese food is not exactly heavy on protein.

[@ryanvas6]

Chet.

[@solesearching390]

my thoughts exactly

[@bobross8118]

@@solesearching390 fuc

[@parkchunjae8471]

I still think James Harden is more compatible with him

[@macksss4079]

watch jxmy video about him, really tells his story

[@donaldtrumpy5914]

Wang Shishi😂

[@jackwoopxu]

姚明牛逼

[@b-ron385]

Chinese eugenics program.

[@kingjro2]

If only his knees held up. :(

[@subteleties]

U

[@anthonydemetriou9335]

Why does this guy talk so weird...

[@mcdus78]

His first game was terrible though.

[@Jetpackguyy]

overrated

[@GuavaConQueso]

Imo Yao sort of overrated. His biggest contribution was opening up China as a market and that benefits the NBA bottom line and has the biggest impact on the salary cap as seen in the '16 off-season but it's not like he started a pipeline of Chinese talent to the NBA, so he deserves no praise for the current international player pool. As far as on-court yea He was good but saying he would have the top 10 center is a big stretch. I don't think he wins a championship in his prime or as the number one guy. Andrew Bynum at 24 before his knee injury put up 18.7 11.8 1.4 ast and 1.9 blocks. Yao at 24 put up 18.3 8.4 0.8 ast and 2.0 blks.

[@paulbaker9086]

Awful take, dude.

[@GuavaConQueso]

@@paulbaker9086 no not at all. The only thing debatable is how good could he have been.

[@joeymini6556]

@@GuavaConQueso you should compare his peak.. Yao in 2006 before his major injury is average 26 11 and 2 blk.. And he was a second option in scoring behing tmac

[@GuavaConQueso]

@@joeymini6556 that's Yao age 26 season. Bynum last nba season was his 26 age season because he couldn't regain his ability after missing the previous year. They're age 22 is also comparable. Yao definitely had a better peak with that season, but I don't think a healthy Yao radically changes NBA history outside of his placement in all time stats.

[@BigTymers1211]

@@GuavaConQueso Its not all about stat. Look at all the prime Centers in the league today (AD, KAT, Joel, BAM, Jokic), what are their common points? Center that are strong and mobile, can shoot 3, and can handle the ball (actually dribble the ball at open court), and who started that trend for centers? Avydaous Sabonis (he was way too damaged by the time he's in NBA), Dirk (he's a 7ft forward that got shoved to Center under Don Nelson, but I digress) and Yao. Bynum was a fucking bum that never really have the desire to be better anyway (just ask his bowling ball and that 3 point shot against Warriors in 2012). If you actually watch Yao's game before all those injuries started, he was getting used to the NBA and making a name of himself as option 1/1A of Rockets (with Tmac), and Bynum is the 3RD/4th Option on a team with Kobe and Pau, sometimes even behind Odom. Yao influenced the current group of great Centers, so I will say he's not overrated (unless you wanna call Shaq Overrated as well)

[@sjiang120]

Yao is very much overrated. Without being a Chinese, he would not be HOF. And I'm Chinese.