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Yao Ming turns new page in basketball career
By Ni Yinbin and Zha Minjie |
July 20, 2011, Wednesday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINESE basketball legend Yao Ming announced his retirement this afternoon in Shanghai and said he had been thinking to quit as a professional player after the third stress fracture in his left ankle late last year.
"I was really in a dilemma then," Yao said with emotion but no tears.
The 30-year-old Huston Rockets center said it was an important day for him as well as his parents, wife and daughter who were also present at the press conference in Pudong.
Yao said he would continue to make basketball his career and would devote himself to managing Shanghai Sharks Club and his Yao Foundation.
"It's just a comma, not a period," said Yao. "One door closed to me and another opened."
Yao also expressed thanks to his family, friends, former teammates, fans, as well as competitors.
The Shanghai-born, 2.26-meter-high giant set a milestone for Chinese basketball when he became the top overall pick of the National Basketball Association 2002 Draft in the US and played eight seasons for the Huston Rockets.
David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, said in a letter that Yao is a player "who had revolutionary influence on the association" and a key connection that link the league to China.
Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, was invited to the conference in Shanghai and said highly of Yao.
"He's the best player in the rocket," said Morey. "He's the leader of the team."
"I was really in a dilemma then," Yao said with emotion but no tears.
The 30-year-old Huston Rockets center said it was an important day for him as well as his parents, wife and daughter who were also present at the press conference in Pudong.
Yao said he would continue to make basketball his career and would devote himself to managing Shanghai Sharks Club and his Yao Foundation.
"It's just a comma, not a period," said Yao. "One door closed to me and another opened."
Yao also expressed thanks to his family, friends, former teammates, fans, as well as competitors.
The Shanghai-born, 2.26-meter-high giant set a milestone for Chinese basketball when he became the top overall pick of the National Basketball Association 2002 Draft in the US and played eight seasons for the Huston Rockets.
David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, said in a letter that Yao is a player "who had revolutionary influence on the association" and a key connection that link the league to China.
Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, was invited to the conference in Shanghai and said highly of Yao.
"He's the best player in the rocket," said Morey. "He's the leader of the team."
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