On June 26, 2002, the Houston Rockets selected Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. From that day on, Yao has been more than just a basketball player who traded Beijing for H-Town. When he first came to the States, a 7-foot-6-inch Yao was timid and focused solely on basketball. As he grew more comfortable with the league, the people, and the culture, Yao became a personality that transcended the game. The Great Wall became a symbol of peace, friendship, and sport throughout the world, and did most of this after hanging up his kicks.
During his playing days and after, Yao has met plenty of celebs and other famous sportsmen and sportswomen. And he’s made most if not all of them look incredibly undersized. We’ve decided to celebrate Yao’s 34th birthday with a look at some of those encounters. From Peyton Manning to LeBron James, check out Yao Ming Making 34 Other Pro Athletes Look Tiny.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)