China ranks third! Yao Ming officially enters the FIBA Hall of Fame
On the 24th, FIBA announced through social media that the 2023 FIBA International Basketball Association Hall of Fame selection ceremony will be held on the 23rd in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Chinese Basketball Association President Yao Ming has been officially selected, becoming the third Chinese to enter the FIBA Hall of Fame after Mou Zuoyun and Zheng Haixia.
The International Basketball Federation once commented on Yao Ming as follows: "Yao Ming once represented the Chinese men's basketball team in international competitions. He was the scoring champion of the 2006 Men's Basketball World Cup and also the first international player to enter the NBA as the top scorer. As an eight time NBA All Star player, he continues to play the global spokesperson for this sport."
The picture is adorned with many titles before the words "Yao Ming": Little Giant, Great Wall of China, First Center, Olympic Flag Bearer, Club Owner, Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association... Now 42 years old, he is still a worthy flag of Chinese basketball.
In the 2002 NBA Draft, a yellow skinned teenager emerged victorious and won the top spot, becoming the first player in Asia to receive this honor. He was Yao Ming.
After landing in the NBA as the top scorer, Yao Ming played a total of 486 NBA games in 9 seasons, averaging 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game.
On the other side of the unfamiliar ocean, Yao Ming used his own efforts to change the NBA's view of Asian players and wrote the legend of "Chinese Yao". Moreover, the emergence of Yao Ming has made more Chinese people fall in love with basketball and opened another window for the Chinese basketball industry.
In the first decade of the 21st century, under the leadership of Yao Ming, the Chinese men's basketball team once again ushered in a glorious moment. In the 2006 World Championships in Japan and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese men's basketball team reached the quarterfinals in two consecutive major competitions. Among them, classic battles such as the ultimate victory over Slovenia, a fierce battle against the American Dream Team, and a narrow victory over Germany are still in sight today. Among these tough battles, Yao Ming has always been the most reliable pillar of the team.
In 2011, Yao Ming was affected by injuries and had no choice but to retire. At that time, he was still in the golden age of a player, under the age of 31. Although regretfully leaving the field, he still contributes to Chinese basketball in his own way.
In 2017, amidst high expectations, Yao Ming was elected as the President of the Chinese Basketball Association, becoming the leader in Chinese basketball. Since taking office, Yao Ming has never stopped reforming Chinese basketball. From the national team to professional leagues, and then to campus youth training, Yao Ming has always hoped to help China's basketball industry move forward.
However, after a peak period, the performance of the Chinese men's basketball team has fallen into a slump in recent years. In the 2019 World Cup, the Chinese men's basketball team suffered a crushing defeat at their doorstep and lost their qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. Facing the reporter's question of "who is responsible for this", Yao Ming only said one word: I.
The failure of the World Cup cannot "erase" Yao Ming's contribution to Chinese basketball. Although the men's basketball team has not performed well recently, the Chinese women's basketball team continues to bring surprises to the audience. The Chinese women's basketball team, which completed the transition from old to new, won the championship at the 2018 Asian Games, the runner up at the 2022 World Cup, and the championship at the 2023 Asian Cup. The Chinese women's basketball team has returned to the ranks of the world's top teams.
FIBA Secretary General Zagres once stated that Yao Ming is the right person to guide and implement China's basketball reform. As the most prestigious Chinese basketball player in the world, he has shouldered this heavy burden.
The 2023 Men's Basketball World Cup is approaching, and Yao Ming, as the team leader, once again leads the Chinese team on the journey. For the team, there is only one goal for this trip - to qualify for the Paris Olympics. I hope that young national players can do their best to contribute to the national team like their predecessors like Yao Ming, and realize the dreams of the entire team.
Congratulations once again on Yao Ming being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, truly deserving of his reputation!