Last edited by CKR13; 07-09-2011 at 02:33 AM.
2013 Draft Pick Wishlist:
Michael Carter-Williams
end of Yao Ming's basketball career
http://twitter.com/#!/WojYahooNBA
Thank you, Yao Ming, for the memories. People make fun of your vertical, of you getting dunked on, of your persistent injuries. What they can not make fun of is your will, your dedication, and your heart. Good luck to the rest of your pursuits, basketball or otherwise. You will always remembered by me as a legend, a professional and a true warrior.Rockets' Yao Ming has decided to retire from the NBA, league sources tell Y! Sports. He informed the league office within past 48 hours.
(even though I'm not surprised by the news, watching that video still got me a little teary-eyed... still remember staying up until 2AM to watch all his games back in 2002-2003... all these years, from 0 point in his first NBA game and being called the biggest bust ever, to being the face of the franchise... carrying China NT on his back... so many moments just came up, the Laker game in 2002 that resulted in Barkley's ass-kissing; the do-or-die game against SCG in 2004 Olympics; the demolition of the Blazers in 2009 playoffs... It really is a shame that he hasn't won anything outside of Asia.)
Last edited by sinobball; 07-08-2011 at 07:49 PM.
aim low, score high
I think the lockout factored into Yao's decision. He couldn't realistically come back, even if he was relatively healthy, after barely playing over a 3 year period (if the lockout costs the whole season). Hopefully he stays involved in the NBA somehow. Maybe the Rockets could retain him as a big man coach - something like the Lakers with Kareem Abdul-Jabar.
Too bad he never got the chance to play for an NBA title. A very good player and an even better person who deserved a better basketball fate than this.
So sad
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
Indeed it is...Originally Posted by rikhardur
So sad
As an International bball fan, I sorely will miss his journeys with China NT, especially such like in 2004 Olympics and vital win against Serbia/Montenegro. Whatta tournament it was... Full of joy and heart breaking and Yao was a big part of it
Wow.
This is really disappointing. I'm not really sure what to say. Since Sabonis, Yao was my favorite player.
Yao is a player for the fan of the game of basketball (not the fan of the style of basketball). His arsenal of moves was so impressive. He could shake people away with power and muscle through them with grace. Everybody who loves the game loves to watch Yao.
Maybe if he were a little shorter, he could be playing a few more years. Maybe if he didn't carry so much weight and maybe if his defenders didn't try to break his bones every time he crossed the three point line.
I'll write more later...man...
"I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas
Thank you for showcasing your talents to NBA Yao Ming. We as fans are saddened by your decision, but you really need to consider your state of health. Xièxiè nǐ, zàijiàn yáomíng!
Follow my blogs and tweets. http://dxjayrocksnotes.blogspot.com/ and https://twitter.com/dxjayrock
As a proud member of Team Bring It, I pledge to stand fearless in the face of adversity and bring it everyday.
I am also saddened by this development. Yao was among the best post scorers that I have seen.
Read About Yao Ming's Greatest Games in Yao Ming Mania
2013 Draft Pick Wishlist:
Michael Carter-Williams
had good match up with the prime Shaq. its ironic that shaq and yao retired the same year. yao mings body is bang up off season after off season yao ming play for national team either olympics, WBC and qualifiers for 2 major basketball events. Rockets could've been a champion team that can contend year after year if yao is healthy. well get healthy yao..
So so sad that we can't see the talents of arguably one of the best centers on the court again. Yao Ming has brought pride for China and asia in the last decade.Hope others can follow his path.
Once again thanks Yao Ming for what you've done for basketball.
Very true Yao Ming did not just brought pride to China alone but to all asian specially for basketball loving filipinos.
?..................
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/07/09/yao.ming/
But Sina Sports, a section of Sina. com, one of China's biggest web portals, says its reporter reached Zhang Mingji soon after hearing the media reports.
Zhang, who is one of Yao's agents, said Yao did not announce his retirement and did not inform the NBA and the Houston Rockets that he was doing so, as reported by the U.S. media.
Yao's agent told CNN that he is giving a news conference in Shanghai on July 20 to talk about "his future career plans."Chinese sports writers and fans believe that Yao's retirement, of course, will happen sooner or later, although they hope it will be later.
They hope the superstar could still play not only in the NBA but for the Chinese national team in the London Olympics next year.
Last edited by DarknessFalls; 07-09-2011 at 06:39 AM.
What a sad ending for arguably one of the, if not the, best Asian bball players to ever play the game
The Chinese NT will never be the same (at least in terms of dominating the Asian bball scene like in previous years when Yao was representing China)...
We can officially add Yao's name to this list of players
It's selfish and unrealistic to expect Yao play for China NT. He's done playing. And it's not like MJ, retire, come back and repeat. It's over. His body does not allow it.
I will be interested to know what the reported "plan" is. I know Yao is a smart man and has a lot of ideas. I also know the plan will have a lot to do with basketball, most likely about youth/developmental basketball.
Finally, a 10-minute video I repeated like 20+ times since yesterday. I admit I haven't followed his NBA games closely since 2003 (other than playoffs) but never did I forget how good he was. This great video is the reminder of that.
aim low, score high
Well said.
He is destined to go down now as one of the 'what ifs'- What if Yao had stayed healthy? In many ways his skills are and have been underrapreciated because, as is the case so many times with big centers, he was not flashy.
One of the true great people to play our sport. I will miss seeing him out there on the court.
http://www.yaomingmania.com/shame.html
What makes this man great is he always improved himself. He sucked in the first month of the NBA. He sucked in the first year in CBA. He sucked in the 1998 Nike American Camp, as this report showed:"Yao Ming makes Shawn Bradley look like Bill Russell."
- Charles Barkley on TNT, 11/14/02
"The best thing for Yao to do would be to stay over there [in Asia] and get a nice job dropping his dream of playing in the NBA..."
- Andy Munger, in an AllSports.com column, 5/3/02
"A bust from a would-be Ming Dynasty is what you are."
- Bob Wolfley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (click for article), 6/25/02
"Years from now, we will remember 'Yao Ming over Jay Williams' the same way we remember 'Bowie over Jordan,' 'Traylor for Nowitzki,' 'Carroll for McHale and Parish,' 'Aguirre over Thomas' and every other great draft day blunder in NBA history. I'm not just predicting it, I'm guaranteeing it."
- Bill Simmons, ESPN.com, May 2002
"Yao makes [LaRue] Martin look like another historic basketball figure, Wilt Chamberlain. Manute Bol has a better chance of playing hockey than Yao does of having an All-Star career..."
- Randy Brickley, Arizona Republic, 11/15/02
"The Great Wall of China is among the Seven Wonders of the World. Yao Ming becoming an All-Star caliber NBA center would merit consideration as the eighth. "
- Bob Matthews, Rochester Democrat and Herald, 11/10/02
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - I remember it like it was yesterday. It was July 6, 1998 and I was getting ready for the practice session at the adidas ABCD Camp in Teaneck, NJ, when I got the call from one of my guys at the NIKE All-American Camp. The big topic of conversation was the big kid that nobody had ever seen before and, as a result, the main item that I wrote previewing the NIKE All-American Camp is as follows: "The big story at the NIKE Camp promises to be the emergence of 7'3 Yao Ming from Shanghai, China...somebody who saw Ming practice yesterday tells us he is unbelievably skilled and versatile enough to post you up inside or beat you outside with his 3-point range." Well, fortunately that person was just a source and not somebody ever worked for the HOOP SCOOP. But, if he had, I would have fired me. Not only did I get a chance to see Ming play at both the NIKE All-American Camp and at the NIKE Summer Championship in San Diego, CA, but I have to admit that was one of the biggest misses we're ever had. Ming was mechanical and lacked both mobility and coordination, plus his skill level and versatility weren't nearly as good as advertised. He did get ranked #20 among centers at the NIKE Camp by the HOOP SCOOP, but, by that time, we're usually just trying to find a few more names at that position to balance out the list. In other words, he wasn't a factor! Sure, Ming was extremely long and he did have a lot of potential to develop, but he also had a lot farther to go in terms of development than any of the average men in the class.
aim low, score high
Some analysts should just keep their mouth shut... I believe many were prejudiced in those (and other) comments. Fortunately, time and Yao proved them wrong.
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
if he and t-mac stay healthy all season long then lakers or the spurs might not won the 07 championship or 2008 celtics. or the 06 heat.
Where does Yao rank ...?
So lads,
We've all received the news that the "Dynasty" has come to a halt.
Two questions:
1. Where does Yao rank on the list of All Time Greatest NBA Internationals?
2. Where doees Yao rank on the list of All Time Greatest Centres?
For question one, I believe that Yao would be in the top 5 of All Time NBA Internationals. My top 5 list, in no particular order would look like this: Yao, Petrovic, Nowitzki, Kukoc and Nash. If not, then Yao definitely is in the top 10 of All Time NBA Internationals.
In regards to the bigger question, where does Yao rank on the list of All Time Greatest Centres, well I would have to say in the top 10, at the highest or at least top 15. He is definitely in the top 20 but whether or not he belongs in the top 10 is a whole different story.
"No hay poder en el mundo que pueda cambiar el destino"
-El Padrino
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