Remember that giant of a man who graced the NBA courts with his silky smooth moves and even smoother jump shot? Yep, we’re talking about Yao Ming, the legendary Chinese baller who took the league by storm.
Yao wasn’t just a walking highlight reel. This gentle giant also possessed a mind as sharp as his footwork. Beyond his impressive stats and towering presence, Yao dropped some seriously quotable wisdom bombs. These gems weren’t just about basketball; they offered insights into life, leadership, and even… fortune cookies. (Yes, you read that right!)
Let’s take a look at some of the best Yao Ming quotes. Prepare to be surprised, inspired, and maybe even chuckle. One quote always sticks with me: “Believe in yourself, have faith, and work hard. Nothing is impossible.” Those are words to live by, on the court and off!
Best Yao Ming Quotes
- Friendship first; competition second.
- A good leader must be fair.
- Sport is the best means of communication between people from different religions and countries.
- Every sound in the gym is so fantastic. The screams of the fans, the whistle of the ref, the teammates calling to each other, the sounds of the ball touching the wooden floor, the sneakers touching the floor, and the sounds of the fight, the muscle, and the sweat. Oh, and the last one—when the ball goes through the net. Don’t laugh at my sensitivity and romanticism – those sounds really attract me.
- Everybody is improving, but I am improving slowly, which seemingly widens our distance.
Yao Ming Quotes on Leadership
- I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a lot of demands.
- It will take time to adapt, but I think I can handle it.
- Fortune cookies are a good idea. If the message is positive, it can make your day a little better.
- It’s always nice to start the season with a win.
- I am a basketball player, and I would like to focus my energy on basketball. The other things I would rather not do. It is not something I am greatly interested in, but I know it is my responsibility.
Good Yao Ming Quotes on Basketball
- I think I’ll stick to what I’m used to, my principles, and that is team Number 1 and individual Number 2.
- I understand basketball is not my entire life. It’s only a part of my life. And there are a lot of other things that interest me a great deal … other goals to seek, and this is how I have balance in life.
- Others are improving very fast, and I’m not improving as fast, and that bothers me.
- The Olympic Games are holy. Athletes from around the world, including myself, of course, dream of participating.
- Westerners respect privacy, and they are very competitive in terms of work and personalities. My teammates in China and I can talk about everything. But with my Houston Rockets teammates, even though we’re friends, we cannot ask each other about everything.
- No matter whether you are a new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another.
- When I was young, we were taught not to dunk. We were taught not to stand out from the rest of the team. It’s different now.
- My American strength coach said he liked me better before I could speak English.
- To miss one year is a long time. I’ve never been in this situation before, and I’m getting as much information as I can about my foot to see what’s the best for me and best for the Rockets.
Yao Ming Sayings
- Kobe’s heart is as strong as his muscles.
- Endangered species are our friends.
- To me, first and foremost, basketball is a fun sport. It is a hobby, an interest. And second, it is a profession. I feel that I am very fortunate that I can find a professional job that I really, really love.
- I’m just one of the 1.3 billion Chinese.
- I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that being famous comes with a lot of demands.
- Sometimes, it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.
- Basketball, in America, is like a culture. It is like a foreigner learning a new language. It is difficult to learn foreign languages and it will also be difficult for me to learn the culture for basketball here.
- Sports teach you how to be quick. Injuries teach you how to slow down.
A giant on and off the court
Yao Ming – The Gentle Giant. At first glance, it’s easy to see why Yao Ming made it to the NBA – he’s 7 feet 6 inches. But there have been a few 7 ft 6 in centers in the past, and how many of them were 8-time All-Star and 5-time All-NBA? The answer is – none.
This legendary Chinese basketball player has made it to the Hall of Fame not just because of his height but also because of his skills and great spirit. His career-high per-game averages are 25 pts, 2.0 blocks, and 10.8 rebounds. Yao is not just another giant. He has become an NBA legend and has changed the way the world used to see the NBA. He has taken the game out and beyond the confines of being an American game across to the most populated country in the world. His contribution to the sport is one chapter in its history that is more than worth going through.
Before Ming played for the Houston Rockets in the NBA, he was a player for the Shanghai Sharks in the CBA, which stands for the Chinese Basketball Association. He is the sole non-American player leading the NBA in All-Star voting. His contribution to the sport and the spirit of sportsmanship goes beyond the court. He’s not just another 7-6 giant in the court. He has proven his skills and talents and has stood out throughout his journey from playing in the CBA to the NBA.
Hall of Famer Yao Ming
Ming was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2016. The other legendary players elected along with him include Allen Iverson and Shaquille O’Neal.
However, Yao became eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. The gentle giant is so humble that he requested to delay considering his nomination because it was too early. The Hall allowed his request and left the decision to Yao when he thought it was the right time to restart the process.
The Ming Phenomenon – Getting the Chinese to Follow the NBA
With Yao playing for the NBA, not only did his fans from China begin following the American version of their CBA, but Asian Americans were also inspired to follow the sport more closely. He was also the first Asian star who was picked first overall. It was also something different and outstanding that an Asian was part of commercials for all the major brands in the U.S., including Nike, Reebok, Apple, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola.
His overwhelming presence and performance in the NBA also contributed to the increase in awareness about Asian Americans and Asians among people from other cultures. In other words, he became the face of the Eastern world.
Yao Ming’s Background
Yao was born in Shanghai, China. Both his parents were former professional basketball players. His father, Yao Zhiyuan, is 6 feet 7 inches tall, and his mother, Fang Fengdi, is 6 feet 3 inches tall. Born with incredible weight, the doctors predicted that he would grow around 7 feet 3 inches tall. Playing basketball seemed predestined for Ming from the very beginning.
Yao Ming Tries on Basketball
Yao began playing basketball when he was just nine years old. This was when he began attending a junior sports school. At 13, he tried out for the junior team at Shanghai Sharks (CBA). It is said that he would practice for 10 hours daily to be accepted into the team. He played for four years with the junior team before joining the seniors.
Playing in the CBA
Even during his rookie session, his average was 10 points and 8 rebounds. But his journey was not smooth.
The very next season, he suffered a fracture in the foot. This was the second time such a fracture occurred in Yao’s career. His ability to jump suffered, which was decreased by almost half a foot.
During Ming’s third season at the Sharks, his team made it to the CBA finals but lost to the Bayi Rockets. The next year, again, the team lost to the same team in the finals. But he eventually became part of the winning team the next year.
Ming’s final year at Sharks was a spectacular one. He averaged a staggering 38.9 pt with 20.2 rebounds per game. Shooting 76.6% from the field, he was as close to a sure thing as they come. He also made all the 21 shots in a finals game. This was before he moved to the NBA.
Ming in the NBA
If it was not for Li Yaomin (deputy GM, Shanghai Sharks) forcing him, Yao Ming wouldn’t have entered the NBA draft, and the world wouldn’t have witnessed this magnificent Chinese player shining in basketball’s biggest festival.
Ming’s career stats stand at an average of 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. He has 9,247 points, 4,494 rebounds, and 920 blocks to his name. He has been part of the NBA All-Star team eight times (2003 to 2009 and 2011), two times All-NBA Second Team, and three times All-NBA Third Team. In 2003, he was part of the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Sports Illustrated’s Take on Yao Ming
Here’s what SI’s Rohan Nadkarni had to write about Yao:
Yao, of course, wasn’t a flash in the pan. He played seven seasons (not counting his final year, in which he played only five games) and was a revelation on the court. His soft touch around the rim. A reliable elbow jumper. His free-throw shooting. The initial mystery surrounding Yao and the lack of flash to his game undersold his ability to dominate in and around the paint.
Off the court, he handled his international megastardom with poise and appeared in some chuckle-worthy commercials like a true NBA superstar.
… Yao Ming’s career ended too soon and too abruptly. He was robbed not only of his prime but also of his twilight years, and the league paid him back for all he did for it.
Never Forgot His Roots
Even after becoming one of the most famous Chinese athletes who earned a name and fame in the NBA, Yao never forgot his roots. In 2009, when his former club, Shanghai Sharks, was on the verge of shutting down, he stepped in to rescue it. He bought the team, which was finding it difficult to survive due to financial troubles.
Challenges
Yao’s career has been marked with several injury challenges, but he bounced back every time. After playing a staggering 244 of the first 246 games for the Houston Rockets, he played not more than 77 games per season. He suffered injuries to the leg, knee, and foot throughout the rest of his career. His height and big frame of 300 lbs are the main reasons for these injuries. Despite this big challenge, nothing could prevent him from becoming the legend that he is known today to be.
Yao suffered an injury in the 2005-2006 NBA season and had to rest for six months. This also put his participation in the FIBA World Championship at risk. He surprised everyone by recovering before the tournament started. He averaged 25.3 pt, the highest in the game, with 9.0 rebounds, the 4th overall. China entered the Round of 16, only to be defeated by Greece, the finalist. Another fracture, followed by surgery, threatened Yao’s prospects of making it to the 2008 Summer Olympics. However, he recovered in time to play with his national team. He bounced back from the injury to carry the Olympic Flame. He scored the first basket in the game against the US.
Ming’s Charitable Contributions
Yao has been an active participant in several charity events throughout his career. He has been contributing to the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program. The former basketball player has also been an ardent Special Olympics supporter.
In 2003, Ming hosted a telethon that raised $300,000. The funds were donated to prevent the spread of SARS.
An auction in 2007 helped him raise almost a million dollars. The same year, he also played in a charity basketball match to raise funds for underprivileged Chinese children. This match had other legends and celebrities, including Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, and Jackie Chan.
Ming donated $2 million to help with the relief work for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake victims. He then created a foundation to help rebuild schools.
Ming – The Wildlife Conservationist
Yao is not just a philanthropist. He has also shown interest in wildlife conservation. He is an ambassador for protecting elephants and has participated in rhinoceros conservation programs. After returning to China after retirement, Ming set out to fight the huge demand for endangered animal products in his country. He also became an ambassador for WildAid.
The former NBA and CBA legend began campaigning to persuade the Chinese to give up shark fin soup, a popular traditional delicacy in his country. The other celebrities who participated in this “I’m FINished with Fins” campaign included Jackie Chan, Jeremy Lin, and David Beckham. According to estimates, this helped reduce the number of sharks killed in China for their fins by almost 50%.
Conclusion
With a background in professional basketball playing in his family and his physical build, it seems natural that Yao Ming chose basketball for his career. However, his rise from the CBA to the NBA and becoming an 8-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA Team player, and Hall of Famer is not ordinary.
Ming achieved this while facing crippling physical injuries throughout his NBA years. Enjoying his philanthropic and wildlife-conservation pursuits, he has also proven to be a great human who cherishes making the earth a better place for everyone.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
Overtime
You’re on the Yao Ming Quotes page.
You might like:
Inspirational Basketball Quotes
