At least Yao would be eligible to join HOF in the sameyaer as Shaq. They'll be inducted in one day for sure
only based on his on-court performance: 2 time all-2nd team 3 time all-3rd team 8 time all-star 2nd best FT% all time among 7ft-ers (dirk nowitzki) AND JUST TWO YEARS AGO... 2009: 20ppg 10rbs 2blks 2asts 55% FG 86% FT HALL OF FAMER.
....wow, that sucks. Not that I was expecting much from Yao post injury but this team truly has no identity now. At least when he was injured he was our 7'6" asterisk but now - it's the Kevin Martin/Luis Scola show for real with no hope of Yao returning. It's a shame Houston can't comment on Yao's departure since it's the lockout - he was truly a great person and ambassador for the NBA. It will be sad to see him no longer associated with this organization.
here's a fascinating possibility... yao and shaq being inducted into the hall of fame in the same year. shaq is a first time ballot guy, what if yao will be...
Jonathan Feigen on SR610 talking Yao: Spoiler On with Josh and Greg. Story biggest in town. Confirmation - is it true? Since Adrian's tweet, I have spoken to 2 people who have confirmed it. Its confirmed. Yao has retired. Looking back at Yao's 9 year run, a lot of injuries. Guessing they couldnt repair the foot as well as it need to be or was he tired of it? Previous surgery was to almost resdesign the foot. That seemed to be a success. Last year was a stress fracture. He could heal from that. What no one could tell him say you can go out there and not get hurt. Reached the point for him, if I play, Im going out again and have to start this all over again. This is not a career ending injury. It has become time that he doesnt want to go through the process again. You followed Yao's career. If you had to sum it up, I dont want to say disappointing but it's what coulda, shoulda been. Word came to me first was great. It was great career. That doesnt mean it wasnt disappointing though. It could have been more. He was great BUT would be a mistake if you focus on what he could have become instead of what he was. At a point, he was the best center in the world. Disappointing because it is but he touched greatness. Didnt live whole career with greatness. It comes about how it ended: 5 straight years with season ending injuries. He touched greatness, that shouldnt be forgotten. Also look at off the court impact. Talk about global impact. Average fan says they keep him around because of the bottom line. Financially, how big impact did he have? I did story about this in the fall. I think its 6-7% of their sponsorships. Not as big as people thought but no one wants to take 6-7% cut either. As we speak, there are players in China or on their way to China to do what they do. As Kobe said, Yao was a bridge to all of us. Kobe immensely popular there. Yao a big reason, if not THE reason for that. Yao made 100 million in salary. Some say he stole that money. If someone says that, is it fair to say what he took in salary he made up in endorsements? Not sure it adds up to same number of what he made. Impact throughout the league, its small number but it is the number two country in business in the world for the NBA. He makes up a lot. Does it go straight to Rockets? I dont know. A lot have benefited from Yao. You said Yao touched greatness. I dont see that. Number two: Are there some or majority of Rockets FO breathing sigh of relief? No(not breathing a sigh of relief). As far as greatness, it wasnt long, only brief, but he was best center in NBA at one point. Yao dominated Howard. Rockets were 11-1 in games they both played. Average 27 and 17 and Howard 16 and 17. This was Yao's peak. Thinking about that for a second, Greg brought up the relief the team has to feel. No. They dont feel relieved. They reached the point they refused to expect anything. They moved to the point they were going to make moves and build the team as if he wasnt there. Right now, 14 guys under contract, 15 with Hayes. They were content with him being a figurehead? No. They saw it as, if Yao came back, good. They reached the point months ago they couldnt say "only if Yao comes back". They knew "Dont expect anything". Hope and wish, ok. When I say not a relief, they kinda already knew. He did tell them before the lockout. They knew. Even when they told him, wasnt a relief. Many knew this was a possibility. Piece coming out on this tomorrow? Tomorrow we'll have the news of the day. I'll have a blog that will cover it also. HOFer and will Rockets retire his number? Around the country, looking at some twitter feeds of NBA writers, they said yes HOFer. Borderline but ok in. Retired number? If the owner/CEO wants it. ... It is worth mentioning, no one more commited to team and teammates than Yao. He came to America for basketball. No one more driven. I tend to think what will get overlooked is understanding what [he] was instead of what coulda, shoulda been.
Thanks for the 8 years you gave the Rockets, Yao. It was fun watching you develop into the best center in the league after so many said you would be a bust.
I was just thinking its a doubly sad day for Space City as the Rocket Yao is retiring on the same day we saw the last rocket launch of the space shuttle.
At least it ends the speculative madness that he'd come back to the Rockets. The feet he saves are clearly his own. Can't say I blame him one bit. Nice run big fella.
The absolute right decision; the best for him, the best for the Rockets, best all around. Yao is a wonderful person, but his consecutive injuries were a disappointment to him, the team, and the fans. To continue the scenarios from the last several season would be madness. Thank you Yao for giving it your best effort. You were and are a great ambassador for your country. I wish you nothing but the best.
it was a pleasure watching him grow and eventually succeed in the NBA. no, he didn't win a title. but he shut up a lot of people up with his improvement of the game.
I am very sad. But when I heard Innes & Cook before this interview, I was furious. They shouted down Feigen like drunk teenagers. I will probably tune in 610 to hear Rockets and Texans games, but I'm not listening otherwise. Utterly classless. If I were Les I'd be on the phone immediately to management. Love to Yao and his family. We'll see Yao again, he's a man to be honored.
