NBA legend Yao Ming looking to continue his education – Basketball News
Yao Ming recently gave his first interview since retiring from professional basketball in July and expressed his desire to go back to school. Yao left studying at the age of 17 to pursue a career in professional basketball and
believes he can now refocus on school.
Ming is a legend in his home country of China. The country of over a billion people looks upon Yao as a national hero and he is immensely adored. He came to the United States in 2002 and changed the global profile of basketball
forever.
Yao was drafted as the first overall pick back in 2002 by the Houston Rockets. Since then, he has only played for Houston and when healthy his displays have been of a tremendous level. So much so that legendary centre Shaquille
O’Neal remarked after Yao’s retirement that had the Chinese big guy been injury free, he could have been one of the better centre’s the NBA ever saw.
That was just not to be though as Ming suffered injuries throughout his career. His last few years with the Rockets featured lengthy frustrating spell at the sidelines. In the end, Yao had to make a decision whether to pursue basketball
or look after his health and the centre rightfully chose the latter option.
Since his retirement tributes have flown in for Yao from far and beyond. His contribution to the game of basketball is hard to undermine. Yao opened up a whole continent to the NBA and basketball and it is thanks to him that basketball
is so popular in China and more and more oriental players are finding their way to the NBA.
So what does a man who has achieved so much in such a short, injury infested career, do after retiring? He completes his studies. Yao is set to enrol in one of the many prestigious universities in China this fall where he will
work towards earning a degree.
"I'm thinking about going back to school this fall," Yao said.
It’s not just a personal wish, for Yao, it is a matter of principle. The man known for his philanthropic work explained,
“I think education is very, very important. Remember the NBA Cares. Always tell read to achieve, read to achieve. How can you not read to achieve and then tell other kids to read to achieve?”
NBA cares is a program by the NBA to get kids from poor communities to learn and get an education. Yao was a major champion of the cause in his time with the Houston Rockets.
It is though hard to imagine the 7-foot-6 Yao going to a university in China and not being overrun by adoring fans. His agent revealed that there would have to special arrangements made for him,
"Yao Ming will definitely not have classes like those freshmen. He will have special teachers arranged by the university," Zhang said.
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