One week of training camp, two practices and an exhibition game were all Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets had to prepare for his debut. Calling it a tall order would be a massive understatement.

Yao Ming, right, sees the Rockets like Team China ... I'm aware of this responsibility. From growing up as a kid, I also looked up to older players on the national team as role models.

Yao Ming, a 7’6 center from China, was discussed almost like an urban legend before his arrival in 2002 (he first appeared on radars at the 2000 Summer Olympics), and when the Houston Rockets ...

When he was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao Ming was quite a unique physical ...