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#11 Yao Ming
Center
Height: 7-6
Weight: 310
NBA Experience: 8
Country: China
High School: Shanghai Physical & Sport Institute (China)
Birthdate: September 12, 1980
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
How Acquired: Drafted in the first round (first overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft
In 2009-2010
Underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot on July 21, which he originally suffered during the 2009 NBA Playoffs … was on the inactive list for all 82 games (10/27/09-4/14/10).
In the NBA
Holds career averages of 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.90 blocks in 481 games (471 starts) with Houston … has compiled 209 career double-doubles … ranks second in Rockets history in career blocked shots (912), sixth in total points (9,196) and sixth in total rebounds (4,467) … has been selected as a starter to seven NBA All-Star Games (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), averaging 7.0 points on .500 shooting in six games (DNP-injured in 2007) … stands with Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in Rockets history to be named a starter to at least seven All-Star Games … is the only player in franchise history to be voted in as an All-Star starter over seven consecutive seasons … has earned All-NBA Second Team twice (2006-07, 2008-09) and All-NBA Third Team three times (2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08) … named Western Conference Player of the Month twice (Nov. 2006, Jan. 2008) … named Western Conference Player of the Week six times in his career (week ending: 3/7/04, 2/26/06, 4/2/06, 11/12/06, 4/1/07, 11/11/07) … voted to The Sporting News All-Star Second Team (2006-07) and as The Sporting News Rookie of the Year by NBA executives (2002-03) … member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team (2002-03) … twice honored with Western Conference Rookie of the Month … selected as a divisional winner for the NBA Sportsmanship Award (2005-06) … stands as the first number-one overall pick to come from an international basketball league, and the fifth number-one overall pick in Rockets history … owns three career 20-20 games (points-rebounds): 22 points and 20 rebounds vs. Detroit (12/6/03), 27 points and 22 rebounds at Phoenix (3/11/05), 22 points and 21 rebounds vs. Golden State (2/24/06). 2008-2009: In his seventh season with the Rockets, named All-NBA Second Team after leading Houston with averages 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.95 blocks in 77 games (77 starts) … DND for one game (11/19/08) due to precautionary reasons with a sore left foot … DND another two games (1/25/09-1/26/09) with a sore right knee … on the inactive list for one game (3/16/09) due to flu-like symptoms and one game (4/10/09) for precautionary reasons due to a sore right foot … Rockets went 32-4 when he scored 20 or more points, including 7-0 when he reached at least 30 points … posted a career-high 38 double-doubles (tied for ninth in NBA) … set his single-season career best for free throw percentage (.866, 381-440 FT) to finish tied for 21st in the NBA in that category … was seventh in the league in both rebounding average and blocks per game, as well as finishing eighth in field goal percentage (.548, 566-1032 FG) … voted in (2,532,958 votes) as the Western Conference starting center for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game (2/15/09), recording two points, three rebounds and one block in 12:23 of action … surpassed Otis Thorpe (8,177) with 30 points vs. Sacramento (12/19/08), went ahead of Mike Newlin (8,480) with 31 points vs. Denver (1/19/09) and climbed above Robert Reid (8,823) with 20 points vs. Toronto (3/3/09) to move into sixth on the Rockets all-time list for most career points scored … recorded a career-best span of 63 consecutive games in which he reached double-figure scoring (4/4/07-11/1/08) … left game at Oklahoma City (11/17/08) in the fourth quarter with a sore left foot … made his first 12-of-13 free throws vs. the L.A. Clippers (12/3/08), while surpassing the 8,000 mark in career points … recorded a season-high 33 points (17-19 FT), 14 rebounds and five assists vs. Golden State (12/5/08), posting 27 second-half points (6-6 FG, 15-17 FT) and 19 fourth-quarter points (5-5 FG, 9-9 FT) … topped Houston with 24 points (11-20 FG) and a season-high 19 rebounds (15 defensive) vs. Atlanta (12/9/08) … netted 32 points (13-19 FG) vs. Denver (12/16/08) and finished with 30 points (11-13 FG) vs. Sacramento (12/19/08), which marked his first consecutive outings of 30-plus points since 2006-07 (30 on 4/14/07 and 34 on 4/16/07) … recorded 24 points (8-13 FG, 8-8 FT), 16 rebounds and four blocks at New Jersey (12/22/08), gathering 10 points and 10 boards in the first half alone … went a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line at Cleveland (12/23/08), including 12-for-12 in the fourth quarter alone … hit 31 consecutive free throws over a five-game stretch (12/19/08-12/26/08) for his fourth career streak of 30-plus straight free throws made (35 from 11/9/07-11/14/07, 32 from 2/27/04-3/9/04 and 31 from 3/7/06-3/13/06) … pulled down eight boards vs. Washington (12/29/08) to cross the 4,000-rebound mark … had 16 points and 15 boards at Atlanta (1/3/09), recording a double-double by halftime (16 points, 10 rebounds) … registered a team-high 26 points (10-13 FG) at Boston (1/7/09), including a put-back shot with 12.9 seconds left in an 89-85 win … finished with 19 points (9-18 FG), 17 boards (15 defensive), five assists and three blocks vs. the L.A. Lakers (1/13/09) … scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting to go along with his 10 rebounds vs. Miami (1/17/09), setting the Rockets single-game record for most field goals made without a miss (previous best: 10-10 FG by Joe Meriweather on 4/11/76 at Atlanta) … did not return for the second half at Indiana (1/23/09) due to a sore right knee … recorded 28 points (9-12 FG, 10-10 FT) and four blocks vs. Chicago (2/3/09) … notched 30 points (12-18 FG) and five blocks vs. Minnesota (2/7/09) … finished with 24 points (8-18 FG, 8-8 FT) and 18 rebounds (7 offensive) vs. Sacramento (2/11/09) … recorded a season-high six blocks at Minnesota (3/1/09) … topped Houston with a season-high six assists at Utah (3/4/09) and led the team by matching his season-best six assists vs. Phoenix (3/6/09) … had 24 points (9-13 FG), 17 boards and three blocks vs. Memphis (3/8/09), which included notching 15 points, 10 rebounds and all of his blocked shots in the first half … knocked down the second 3-pointer of his career (first: 3/21/03 at Golden State) with 2:12 left to play at Charlotte (3/13/09) … finished with a game-high 31 points (13-22 FG), 15 rebounds and four blocks in a 106-101 double-overtime win vs. Detroit (3/18/09) … had at least one blocked shot in 17 straight games (2/11/09-3/18/09) he appeared in for a total of 45 blocks (2.65 bpg) over that span … scored 14 points vs. Minnesota (3/20/09) to eclipse 9,000 career points … posted 21 points (7-11 FG, 7-8 FT) and 15 rebounds vs. the L.A. Clippers (3/28/09), including 15 points (5-8 FG) and 12 boards in the first half ... marked his fourth time on the season and the 14th time in his career to post a double-double by halftime … led the Western Conference in blocks during the month of Mar. (2.71 bpg) … notched a season-high-tying six blocks at the L.A. Lakers (4/3/09), while surpassing the 900 plateau in career blocks … registered a double-double in a season-best six consecutive games (3/24/09-4/7/09). 2007-2008: In his sixth season with Houston, earned All-NBA Third-Team accolades after averaging 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds (career high), 2.3 assists (career high) and 2.02 blocks (career high) in 55 games (55 starts) … on the inactive list for 27 games with one outing (1/27/08) due to an upper-respiratory infection and 26 games (2/26/08-4/16/08) with a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone in his left foot … underwent successful season-ending surgery to repair the stress fracture on Mar. 3 … prior to his injury, stood as one of only two players in the NBA to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.00 blocks … registered eight 30-point outings and five 30-13 games (points-rebounds) … posted 33 double-doubles, which was tied for sixth among NBA leaders before his season-ending injury … had three streaks of 20 or more consecutive free throws made: 35 (11/9/07-11/14/07), 27 (11/26/07-12/5/07) and 21 (12/28/07-1/2/08) … was perfect from the free throw line with at least 10 attempts in three games: 14-14 vs. Milwaukee (11/9/07), 13-13 at Sacramento (12/1/07) and 10-10 at Cleveland (2/19/08) … finishing fourth among West players and seventh overall in All-Star votes received (1,709,180), notching six points and five rebounds in 13:17 of action in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game (2/17/08) … named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Nov. 5-11 … earned Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Kia for Jan. 2008 … surpassed Moses Malone (758 blocks in 464 games) into second in Rockets history for blocked shots with his third block (759 blocks in 400 games) vs. Sacramento (2/13/08) … moved past Cuttino Mobley (7,448) and Steve Francis (7,281) into ninth on Houston's all-time points scored list … surpassed Robert Reid (3,606) and Ralph Sampson (3,189) into sixth place in Rockets history for total rebounds … recorded 28 points (12-24 FG), 13 rebounds (8 offensive) and a season-high six assists vs. San Antonio (11/6/07) … posted four consecutive 20-10 double-doubles (11/3/07-11/9/07) … scored 20 or more points in seven straight games (11/3/07-11/14/07) … hit 14-of-14 free throws vs. Milwaukee (11/9/07), setting his career high for most free throws made in a game without a miss … recorded the longest consecutive free throw streak of his career (35 from 11/9/07-11/14/07) … registered 30 points (11-18 FG), 15 rebounds and a season-best six blocked shots vs. Dallas (11/21/07) … racked up 28 points and 14 rebounds vs. Dallas (12/15/07), posting a double-double by halftime (14 points, 10 boards) … led the Rockets in scoring with 26 points at Denver (12/20/07), adding season highs in rebounds (19, 14 defensive) and assists (6, tied) in a career-most 51:36 of action … topped Houston in points (30), rebounds (8), assists (6) and blocks (4) vs. New York (1/5/08) … posted a season-high 36 points (14-21 FG) and 11 rebounds at New York (1/9/08) … finished with 30 points (11-24 FG), 16 rebounds and four blocks vs. New Orleans (1/13/08) … notched 30 points (12-19 FG) and 17 rebounds vs. Seattle (1/21/08), including 17 points and 10 boards in the first half … registered another season-best six assists at Seattle (1/23/08) … equaled his season highs in points (36), rebounds (19, 14 defensive) and free throws made (14-15 FT) vs. Golden State (1/29/08), finishing the first half with 16 points and 13 boards, which included a 12-point, 11-rebound first quarter (matched third-best rebounding total for a quarter in team history) … marked third time on the season to post a double-double by halftime … registered a double-double in each of seven contests played (1/19/08-2/2/08), which set his career best for consecutive games with a double-double … scored 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting vs. Miami (2/21/08). 2006-2007: Named All-NBA Second Team and to The Sporting News All-Star Second Team … in his fifth season with Houston, averaged a team-high 25.0 points (career high), 9.4 rebounds and 1.96 blocks in 48 games (48 starts) … was placed on the inactive list for 32 games (12/26/06-3/3/07) with a fractured right leg … again on inactive list for one game (4/6/07) with a sore lower back … was a DNP (rest) at Utah (4/18/07) … led the Rockets and ranked 15th in the NBA in free throw percentage (.862, 356-413) … had a career-best 16 30-point outings and posted 20 double-doubles … had four games with at least 35 points and 15 or more rebounds … named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played through Nov., becoming the first Rockets player to receive this recognition since Olajuwon (Feb. 1995) … twice named Western Conference Player of the Week (games played Nov. 6-12 and Mar. 26-Apr. 1) … named as a starter to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game (DNP-injured), finishing second among all players in votes received (2,451,718) … recorded 36 points (12-12 FT) vs. Dallas (11/4/06) … posted 35 points (15-21 FG), 17 rebounds and seven blocks vs. New York (11/10/06) … notched 34 points and 14 rebounds at Miami (11/12/06) … led the Rockets in points (33, 17-20 FT), rebounds (16) and assists (4) at Detroit (11/18/06) … had a streak of 11 straight games of 20-plus point performances (11/7/06-11/28/06) … recorded 38 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks at Washington (12/9/06) … posted 23 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter at Washington (12/9/06), which set his career high for quarter points and ranked as the second best 12-minute total in Rockets history … had 38 points (15-32 FG) and a season-high 18 boards at Golden State (12/14/06) … registered 35 points (15-35 FG, career high in attempts), 15 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks at the L.A. Lakers (12/15/06) … recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high five assists at the L.A. Clippers (12/17/06) … posted 34 points and five blocks at Portland (12/20/06), marking first time in his career to record four consecutive 30-point performances … suffered small fracture on his right anterior medial tibial plateau (right leg) in the first quarter vs. the Clippers (12/23/06) … had 37 points (14-22 FG) and four blocks vs. Orlando (3/11/07) … posted 32 points and 14 rebounds vs. Indiana (3/20/07) … registered a season-high 39 points (17-21 FT, career high in FTA), 11 rebounds and four blocks at the L.A. Lakers (3/30/07) … notched 35 points, 16 boards and four blocks vs. Utah (4/1/07). 2005-2006: Named All-NBA Third Team after averaging 22.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.65 blocks in 57 starts … was twice named Western Conference Player of the Week (games played Feb. 21-26 and Mar. 27-Apr. 2) … was one of only four players in the NBA to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the first Houston player to accomplish that feat since Olajuwon in 1995-96 (26.9 points, 10.9 rebounds) … led the Rockets with 34 double-doubles and 39 20-point games, including 10 30-point performances … scored 30 or more points in five of six games (3/5/06-3/15/06) … stood as the top scoring center in the NBA, finishing ahead of Miami's Shaquille O'Neal (20.0) … led the Rockets in rebounds per game, blocked shots and free throw percentage (.853, 337-395 FT) … among NBA leaders, ranked T-11th in double-doubles, 13th in field goal percentage (.519, 467-900 FG) and 14th in free throw percentage … had a season-high seven blocked shots vs. N.O./Okla. City (11/5/05) … underwent successful surgery on Dec. 19 to clean out an infection in his left big toe for a condition known as osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by bacteria) … returned to action at Memphis (1/30/06) after missing 21 games (12/18/05-1/29/06) … led all players in votes received for a second straight season (2,342,738) to earn his fourth consecutive start for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, registering five points and two boards in 19:14 of action for the West in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game (2/19/06) … recorded 22 points and a season-high 21 rebounds (17 defensive) vs. Golden State (2/24/06) … registered 27 points, 18 boards and a season-high five assists vs. Phoenix (2/27/06) … notched another five straight double-doubles (5 straight: 12/3/02-12/13/02; 2/22/06-3/1/06) … recorded 32 points and 13 rebounds vs. Portland (3/5/06), which he followed with 30 points and 13 boards at Minnesota (3/7/06) to become the first Rockets player to post back-to-back 30-13 games (points-rebounds) since Olajuwon (12/19/95-12/21/95) … also marked first time in his career to record 30-point performances in consecutive games … notched a season-high 38 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks vs. Indiana (3/8/06) for his third straight 30-point, 10-rebound effort … scored 36 points vs. New Jersey (3/13/06), including his career high in free throws made (18-20 FT) … recorded 20 or more points in 14 consecutive games (2/22/06-3/20/06), which ranks as the longest such streak of his career … added a season-high-tying five assists vs. Seattle (3/29/06) … matched his season high with 38 points (15-25 FG) vs. Washington (3/31/06) … recorded 33 points on a career-high 16 field goals made (16-25 FG) at the L.A. Lakers (4/2/06) … for his third time on the season, had a double-double by halftime with 20 points and 10 rebounds by the break at the L.A. Lakers (4/2/06) … left game at Utah (4/10/06) at the 3:51 mark of the first quarter with a broken fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot … underwent successful surgery on Apr. 14 to repair the break, missing the final four games of the season (4/12/06-4/19/06). 2004-2005: Averaged 18.3 points (on a career-high .552 shooting) with 8.4 rebounds and 2.00 blocks in 80 starts … led the Rockets in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocked shots, while ranking second on the team in scoring average … stood with Elton Brand and Shaquille O'Neal as the only NBA players to average 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.00 blocks … among NBA leaders, ranked third in field goal percentage, 11th in blocks per game and 20th in rebounding average … topped the Rockets with 24 double-doubles … reached 20 points 39 times and 30 points four times … scored a season-high 40 points vs. Toronto (12/20/04) … recorded 27 points and a career-high 22 rebounds at Phoenix (3/11/05) … registered a season-high five blocks vs. Atlanta (12/15/04), at Phoenix (3/11/05) and vs. Denver (4/16/05) … broke Michael Jordan's then-record for All-Star votes received, as he scored 11 points with eight rebounds in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game (2/20/05). 2003-2004: Earned Third-Team All-NBA recognition after leading the Rockets with 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.90 blocks in 82 starts … stood as one of six NBA players to lead his team in points, rebounds and blocks … among NBA leaders, ranked seventh in field goal percentage (.522), 13th in blocks per game and 15th in rebounding average … ranked 15th in the NBA with 33 double-doubles … blocked a season-high seven shots vs. Miami (11/11/03) … registered 22 points and 20 rebounds vs. Detroit (12/6/03) … scored a career-high 41 points with 16 rebounds and a career-best seven assists vs. Atlanta (2/22/04) … named Western Conference Player of the Week on Mar. 8. 2002-2003: Earned unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.74 blocks in 82 games (72 starts) … voted The Sporting News Rookie of the Year by NBA executives … was the only rookie to lead his team in both rebounds and blocks per game … stood as the only rookie to rank in the NBA's top-20 in three statistical categories (15th in field goal percentage, 15th in blocks per game and 18th in rebounding average) … led all rookies with a team-high 27 double-doubles … among NBA rookies, ranked second in scoring average, second in rebounding average, first in blocks per game and third in field goal percentage … scored a rookie-season-high 30 points with 16 rebounds at Dallas (11/21/02) … set a rookie season high with 19 rebounds at Sacramento (3/23/03) … named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for Dec. 2002 and Feb. 2003.
In the Playoffs
Has averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.50 blocks in 28 postseason contests (28 starts) with Houston … owns 13 career postseason double-doubles. 2009: Averaged team highs of 17.1 points (.902, 46-51 FT), 10.9 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in nine playoff games (nine starts) … was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason with a left ankle sprain and small hairline fracture in his left foot, which he sustained during Game Three vs. the L.A. Lakers (5/8/09) … averaged 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.17 blocks in six games against Portland in the First Round … averaged 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.33 blocks in three games against the L.A. Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals … set the Rockets playoff record for field goal percentage in a game by going 9-for-9 from the field (6-6 FT) on his way to 24 points in Game One at Portland (4/18/09) … with his tip-in bucket in the first quarter of Game Two at Portland (4/21/09), made 10 straight field goals to begin the series with the Trail Blazers … also made 19 consecutive free throws to start the Portland series (4/18/09-4/26/09) … topped the Rockets with 28 points (9-17 FG), 10 rebounds and two blocks in Game One at the L.A. Lakers (5/4/09), which included a playoff-best 10-for-10 performance from the free throw line (8-8 FT in fourth quarter). 2008: On the inactive list for the entire 2008 NBA Playoffs (undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a stress fracture). 2007: In his third postseason with the Rockets, averaged 25.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 0.71 blocks in seven playoff games (seven starts) … finished with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds in Game One vs. Utah (4/21/07) … recorded 26 points (14-16 FT) and 14 boards in Game Three at Utah (4/26/07) … notched 21 points and a career-playoff-best 15 boards in Game Five vs. Utah (4/30/07) … scored 29 points in Game Seven vs. Utah (5/5/07). 2005: Averaged 21.4 points in seven starts, including three 30-point games … scored a playoff-career-high 33 points at Dallas (4/25/05) and again in Game Seven (5/7/05) … added 30 points at Dallas (5/2/05). 2004: Ranked second on the Rockets with 15.0 points per game … scored 21 points at the Lakers (4/19/04).
In International Play
Played for the Chinese National Team during each of his first six summers after being drafted into the NBA … averaged 23.4 points and 15.4 rebounds in five seasons with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association prior to playing in the NBA. 2008: Finished second among all players in points per game (19.0) and third in rebounding average (8.2) in six games played with China during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 2007: Participated with the Chinese National Team in its continued preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 2006: Led all scorers in the 2006 FIBA World Championships, averaging 25.3 points per game and 9.0 rebounds for China. 2005: Collected 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks to power China to its fourth consecutive Asian Championship. 2004: Averaged 20.7 points and a tournament-leading 9.3 rebounds in the 2004 Summer Olympics. 2002-2003: Averaged 22.6 points and 13.1 rebounds in the Asian Basketball Championship. 2001-2002: Averaged 21.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in the 2002 FIBA World Championship Games … in his final CBA season, averaged 32.6 points, 19.0 rebounds and 4.8 blocked shots and led the Sharks to their first CBA Championship. 2000-2001: Averaged 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in the 2000 Summer Olympics … averaged 27.1 points, 19.4 rebounds and 5.5 blocked shots with Shanghai to earn CBA MVP honors. 1999-2000: Averaged 21.3 points with Shanghai. 1998-1999: Averaged 20.9 points with the Sharks. 1997-1998: Averaged 10.2 points as a CBA rookie.
In Life
Full name is Yao Ming, with Yao his surname and Ming his given name … married wife, Ye Li, in Shanghai during the summer of 2007 … couple has a daughter … his father, Yao Zhi Yuan, stands 6-foot-7 and his mother, Fang Feng Di, stands 6-foot-3 … his mother also played for China's National Team … received his first formal basketball training at age nine … has played on the Chinese National Team since age 18 … co-authored Yao: A Life in Two Worlds with Ric Bucher … starred in the movie The Year of the Yao, which chronicled his rookie year in the NBA … received the 2003 Laurels World Newcomer of the Year award … created The Yao Ming Foundation in June 2008, under the auspices of The Giving Back Fund in the United States, which will help raise funds and awareness of children's wellness and welfare issues in the U.S. and China … The Yao Ming Foundation has also partnered with The China Youth Development Fund (CYDF) in China to distribute funds and provide day-to-day oversight for rebuilding projects … first initiative for his foundation focused on raising funds to support rebuilding efforts in China with an emphasis on constructing earthquake-resistant, high-quality schools that were destroyed in the deadly earthquake that hit China's Sichuan and Gansu provinces on May 12, 2008 … in addition to its goals of supporting youth-oriented programs in China and the United States, The Yao Ming Foundation plans to support non-profit organizations working to rebuild areas in Galveston and Houston affected by Hurricane Ike … The Yao Ming Foundation donated a foundation grant to the non-profit organization Collaborative for Children to support four Houston early education centers in their efforts to rebuild playgrounds damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike … after a rapid series of strong earthquakes hit a mountainous and impoverished area of China's Qinghai province on Apr. 14, 2010, The Yao Ming Foundation and iTalkBB quickly responded to this disaster by providing a free hotline for the overseas Chinese to contact their friends and relatives in Qinghai … hosted a multi-national telethon to raise funds to battle SARS in 2003 … teamed with Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash to host a charity basketball game between Nash and a team of NBA players going against Yao's Chinese National Team in Beijing (9/15/07) with proceeds going to several causes, including CYDF to build schools and pay the tuition of mentally challenged and poor students in China's poverty-stricken western regions … ambassador for Special Olympics and participates in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program … has served as a spokesperson for the HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in China … pledged to give up eating shark's fin soup, a Chinese delicacy, as he joined a campaign to promote wildlife protection in 2006 … honored as the UN Environment Programme's first-ever "Environmental Champion" in 2008 … purchases tickets to Rockets home games for disadvantaged youth.
In Transactions
Drafted by Houston in the first round (first overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft … signed with Houston on Oct. 21, 2002 … signed a multi-year contract extension on Sept. 1, 2005 … elected not to exercise the early termination option in his contract in order to complete the final year of his contract on June 29, 2010.
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