Yao Ming can be inducted in the 2012 NBA Hall of Fame as a contributor
Chinese superstar centre, Yao Ming, retired last month, ending an era that was filled with success. His career statistics as a player might not increase anymore but what he did for the National Basketball Association (NBA) by making
it an international brand would definitely increase his reputation as a contributor.
The 7ft 6in giant averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in seven full seasons. He was the top overall pick in 2002 NBA Draft and played with Houston Rockets from 2002-2011. In the last six of the nine seasons, he suffered
from various injuries.
In2005, he suffered from bone spur and osteomyelitis in his left foot. In 2006, he broke a bone in his left foot and also in his right knee. His injury-plagued left foot suffered again when he had a stress fracture and hairline
fracture in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In 2010, his game was affected from a stress fracture in his left ankle.
After the surgery to repair his bone in 2009, his doctor admitted that there would be little chances of his recovery. The Rockets reduced his minutes in the season to retain him in the long run, but the unfortunate player suffered
from the stress fracture, which forced him to his early retirement from basketball. Yao only managed to play five games in the last NBA season but the viewership in China was 11 percent high. This in effect, goes to show how much Yao has influenced the Chinese
and how Yao has made it the second biggest market for NBA.
So great have been his contributions that the CEO and President of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, John Doleva, recently said that although it is impossible to induct Ming in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a player
till 2017, he might well be inducted next year as a contributor to the game.
"There are examples of people who have been elected as players and then elected as coaches," but there has never been anyone elected as a contributor and then elected as a player or a coach. That's not to say it can't be done;
there are no rules against it." Said Doleva.
International president of NBA, Heidi Ueberroth regards him as a transformational player who had a positive impact on growth of basketball as a game globally. “For our international business, China is our
No. 1 market as we have seen double-digit growth in the past several years and are projecting that in the future.”
There are around twenty five thousand retail locations where NBA merchandise are sold in China. 16 million internet users in China follow the micro blogging service of the league. 4.7 billion surfers visited
the NBA’s website 1.7 billion streamed the live videos resulting in 43 and 226 percent increase from last year.
The nomination of Yao Ming in the NBA Hall of Fame will be a token of appreciation for his contributions.
Tags: