Leslie Alexander: Rockets will retire Yao Ming's number

I agree 100%. Yao was so much more than a basketball player. When I think of all the attention he received and how much pressure he was under, it's amazing how well he handled all that. Even with all the injuries I think the Rockets were lucky to have him as long as they did. All his former teammates and even his competitors on the court always had good things to say about Yao. Also, Yao made Charles kiss an ass.

 

Good for him.

 

The Basketball Hall of Fame included in it's selection criteria college, professional and international play and also "contributions to the game" for both men and women. There is no NBA Hall of Fame. Just to clarify.

 

Face of the franchise for many years. Very deserving.

 

Yeah, Yao deserves to have his jersey retired, he is going to go down as one of our most famous players and a international basketball Hall of Famer, given his accomplishments in the international games + his Rockets tenure.

 

I assume this is for bringing millions of Chines fans to the Rockets / NBA. If that is the case he deserves it. His play on the court does not dictate jersey retirement. Nothing against the guy but he was never a superstar caliber player.

 

Good call, but they should wait until after he goes into the HOF, don't you think?

 

Now if they would only retire Mcfails clipboard.

 

I've said it many times before and I'll say it again. It's unfortunate that Yao ended his career by injury because it has shrouded the perspectives of a lot of onlookers and fans about how good of a player he was. It's too bad.

 

he has brought China to the NBA...and vice versa (ie TMAC playing in China, shoe contracts for Battier)

Great person, player...sad that injuries cost him his career...thanks for the memories...Yao...

 

Yao deserves it, at least he isn't like Hakeem working with Kobe, Lebron, Dwight, Melo, McVale, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudamire (reports of $100,000 paid), K.Faried and others. These are players going against Rockets. How you doing Asik?!?!?! Yao made Leslie a lot of money, so why not?!?!?

 

Scola's 14 must be retired

 

Pretty much inevitable.

 

Humm did not realize these stats. Numbers wise he really is one of the greatest rockets all time then. Damn shame how his last few years went

 

As a player, Yao was well on his way to be a HOFamer. He had a very similar career trajectory to Dirk and Pau Gasol. He had a good chance to lead us to a championship like those two did. Too bad his career got cut short by injury.

But in term of influence, he is second only to Dream (and arguably more) for any players who ever wore a Rockets jersey.

 

No matter on the court or outside court, he's a player. He only takes the team to the semi final. So actually he doesn't deserve it.

 

He was the best center in the league for a time and certainly the most recognizable player the franchise has ever had world wide. He is not in Dreams class or Malones class but he was still a multi year all-star and a class guy. No question that he clearly deserves to have his number retired and this is not even debatable.

 

I believe he would have brought a title to Houston and been a HOFer if his body held up. Retiring his # adds a bit of consolation and is the honorable thing to do.

 

I didn't realize that Hayes' jersey wasn't retired! WTF?! Is there some story behind this or something??

Also, Yao's a neat guy and all, but retiring his jersey?? Pssh, whatever.

 

Lin in 2020