Asian Pioneers: Yao Ming

Yao Ming, the towering Chinese center who played for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011, was one of the most unique and dominant players in the history of the NBA. Standing at an imposing 7'6", Yao was a formidable presence on the court, and his combination of size, skill, and intelligence made him one of the most respected and admired players in the league.

Despite his incredible talent, Yao faced a great deal of discrimination as an Asian player in the NBA. Many critics and analysts doubted his abilities, and some even questioned whether he would ever be able to compete at the highest level. One particularly notable instance occurred in 2002, when Shaquille O'Neal, another dominant center in the league, released a rap music video in which he made several racist comments about Yao. In the video, Shaq referred to Yao as "wang zhu or whatever your name is" and mocked his accent. The video caused widespread outrage and was quickly pulled from circulation, but the damage had already been done. Yao responded to the incident by saying that he didn't take Shaq's comments personally and that he knew that Shaq had a good sense of humor. However, the incident highlighted the fact that discrimination and racism were still very much present in the NBA and that Yao had to work twice as hard to prove himself as a capable player. Ultimately, Yao proved them all wrong, putting up incredible statistics and leading the Rockets to the playoffs on several occasions.

One of the most striking things about Yao's game was his height. At 7'6", he was one of the tallest players in the league, and he used his size to great advantage. He was able to dunk the ball with ease, and his long arms and wingspan made him an imposing shot-blocker. He was also an excellent rebounder, and his height allowed him to get his hands on a lot of balls that other players simply couldn't reach.

Despite his height, Yao was also a skilled and intelligent player. He had a great understanding of the game, and he was able to use his size to create mismatches and exploit the weaknesses of his opponents. He was also a great passer, and he had a keen sense of when to get the ball to his teammates in the right position to score.

Over the course of his career, Yao put up some truly incredible statistics. In 8 seasons, he averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He also shot 52.4% from the field and 82.8% from the free-throw line. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider the fact that Yao was often double-teamed and had to battle through constant foul trouble.

To put Yao's statistics in perspective, let's compare them to some of the other great centers in the league at the time. The table below shows the career averages of Yao Ming, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard:

Player	Points	Rebounds	Blocks	Field Goal Percentage	Free Throw Percentage
Yao Ming	19.0	9.2	1.9	52.4	82.8
Shaquille O'Neal	23.7	10.9	2.3	58.2	52.7
Tim Duncan	19.0	10.8	2.2	50.6	67.1
Dwight Howard	17.4	12.6	2.2	57.9	58.8

As we can see, Yao's statistics are very similar to those of Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard, who were all considered to be among the best centers in the league at the time. In fact, Yao's field goal percentage is higher than that of Shaquille O'Neal, and his free throw percentage is higher than that of both Shaq and Dwight Howard.

In conclusion, Yao Ming was an incredible player who faced a great deal of discrimination as an Asian player in the NBA. Despite this, he was able to put up some truly incredible statistics and lead the Rockets to the playoffs on several occasions. His height, skill, and intelligence made him one of the most dominant and respected players in the league, and his legacy continues to inspire and inspire players around the world.