Yao would arguably have a clearer path if he was nominated as a Contributor, but he previously rejected that approach, even when it could have meant going on the ballot without the five-season wait required by players via the North American committee that handles most candidates with NBA ties. That would indicate he will want to be judged for his work on the court, not what his Rockets career did to popularize basketball in China, a decision that could take support away from others even if the six-time All-Star does not make the Class of 2016.
Hell Ya he deserves it. Dude was a great great player and contributed more than any player in terms of globalization of the game since Jordan, Magic and bird. Those 4 guys shaped the way the world sees basketball more than any player ever. I remember reading a a wilbon article when yao retired and he broke it down on why Yao was great. He was on pace to reach 20k points 10k rebounds and 1k blks. Those are easy HoF numbers and would have went down as a top 10 center all time. I still think he's one of the best offensive centers to ever play the game too 10 maybe 8 imo.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Woj Report: Yao Ming, his legacy and his Hall of Fame moment. Video essay on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVertical">@TheVertical</a>. <a href="https://t.co/JNAigea1tA">https://t.co/JNAigea1tA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/StateFarm">@StateFarm</a></p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/697824945196421120">February 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yao on he and Shaq maybe going in Hall together: "I worry about when when we stand on podium together can that floor handle our weight."</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/698214653751664641">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Caught up with Yao Ming at Hall of Fame announcement. Said "It's been a tough year. For the Shanghai Sharks." Who else could he have meant?</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/698212350382514176">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All-Star <a href="https://twitter.com/carmeloanthony">@carmeloanthony</a> daps up the legend <a href="https://twitter.com/YaoMing">@YaoMing</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar">@NBAAllStar</a> media circuit! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStarTO?src=hash">#NBAAllStarTO</a> <a href="https://t.co/zGNienKuBF">pic.twitter.com/zGNienKuBF</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/698221268617695232">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Squad goals <a href="https://t.co/4t5EU1eWAE">pic.twitter.com/4t5EU1eWAE</a></p>— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/698221173851734017">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 14 North American finalists: Leta Anrews Charles "Lefty" Driesell Darrell Garretson Robert Hughes Allen Iverson Tom Izzo Kevin Johnson Muffet McGraw John McLendon Shaquille O'Neal Bo Ryan Eddie Sutton Sheryl Swoopes (Team) Wayland Baptist University
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/11/alexander-rockets-plan-to-retire-yaos-no-11/ That was 2012.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Allen Iverson finally speaks on the Tyronn Lue meme and he doesn't like it.<a href="https://t.co/Enq7EJSbQL">https://t.co/Enq7EJSbQL</a></p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/698239100394967040">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>