im pretty sure yao wasnt drafted to make a good image around the rockets...he was drafted because hes 7'6 and the best player in the draft besides amare yes it got the rockets more publicity but i doubt yao ming was drafted for that purpose
Do you know how hard it is being 7'6"? Take Sun Mingming for example. He is 7'9" and he is the most uncoordinated person on the planet. Take a look at this. We take Yao for granite because he is the best center in the league. But what he does is one of the most amazing things that a person has ever achieved as an athlete.