Yao Ming Quits Basketball

The Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming has decided to retire. The 7-foot-6, 310-pound player was the top pick during the 2002 NBA draft and will end his career as an eight-time All-Star. Yao has endured an assortment of injuries throughout his seasons, including multiple fractures in his left foot and a hairline fracture in his right leg, forcing him onto the bench for 250 of the 492 games played since the 2004-05 season. While this stunted his overall development in the game, he certainly made up for it with his impact overseas. The Chinese-born player took the league to his native country, which was quickly picked up by China's fast-growing economy.