Yao Ming retires from the NBA

[pgm]

Yao Ming isn't quite a legend. He's not a hall of famer. He's one of the great "what if" players.

[brantonli]

It has just occurred to me that Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming retired in the same season.

[R.I.P.]

There are seriously people talking about Yao going to the HOF. What has he ever done? Is it an accomplishment now to be born in China instead of Cameroon? He had no success in FIBA basketball, no success in NBA basketball, some okay individual stats, but no longevity. Crazy talk.

[Euroleague]

There are seriously people talking about Yao going to the HOF. What has he ever done? Is it an accomplishment now to be born in China instead of Cameroon? He had no success in FIBA basketball, no success in NBA basketball, some okay individual stats, but no longevity. Crazy talk.

FIBA HOF - not for play, but he did bring the game to Asia. So maybe a 50/50 on that one.

Basketball HOF - not for play, but his influence means he will get in there.

Quite frankly, you are totally delusional if you don't think he will get in the Basketball HOF. The FIBA one is harder, because it has much higher standards. But, Yao is pretty much a lock for the Basketball HOF.

"Contribution to the growth and expansion of the game" is one of the main considerations and factors for getting into the Basketball HOF. Yao Ming will be in there, guaranteed, whether you like it or not.

[R.I.P.]

FIBA HOF - not for play, but he did bring the game to Asia. So maybe a 50/50 on that one.

Basketball HOF - not for play, but his influence means he will get in there.

Quite frankly, you are totally delusional if you don't think he will get in the Basketball HOF. The FIBA one is harder, because it has much higher standards. But, Yao is pretty much a lock for the Basketball HOF.

"Contribution to the growth and expansion of the game" is one of the main considerations and factors for getting into the Basketball HOF. Yao Ming will be in there, guaranteed, whether you like it or not.

Like I said, HOF credential: Was born in China.

[Euroleague]

Like I said, HOF credential: Was born in China.

Wang, Mengk, Yi, Sun - all of them were born in China. All of them played in the NBA. Not one of them will sniff the HOF.

Obviously, the qualification is a little more than having been a Chinese born NBA player.

[Xsatyr]

For those of you blaming China for his injuries, you guys do understand that the NBA was a second priority for Yao and that his first priority was playing for his national team right?

Wrong, towards the end of his career he caused controversy bc he chose not to play. You have to understand the pressure China can put on its citizens. There is reason why Yao chose to have his daughter in the States.

[bluechox2]

kobe is more popular in china

[wally_world]

Is Greg Oden next?

[kentatm]

The NBA is going to lose a TON of Chinese fans.

[imlmf]

damn there goes 1 billion followers of the NBA.

that's an incredibly stupid comment, on so many levels too

[StroShow4]

The NBA is going to lose a TON of Chinese fans.

Nah.

EDIT: F@ck.

[apesta]

such a shame that Yao needs to retire due to injury. im chinese and im definitely proud of what Yao has done in the NBA. Good talented Chinese players are just so rare and the fact Yao was able to impact the NBA for short period of time was amazing at least in most Chinese people's eyes.

To the people that always blame China for ruining Yao's career, you people need to know that Yao takes his country pride top priority. It has nothing to do with China forcing him to play. Of course, its always easy to blame the government because of their background.

[Rekindled]

Nah.

EDIT: F@ck.

inject some of Yao's heart into Yi, and Yi would be an allstar starter .

[Heat1011]

good luck yao