For the second straight year, the Houston Rockets will accommodate Yao Ming’s Chinese Basketball Association team, the Shanghai Sharks, for a preseason game at Toyota Center this coming October 5.

While most teams play other NBA teams in preseason exhibition games, the Rockets are slightly veering off course by agreeing to take on the Sharks anew. This setup likely would’ve not materialized if it weren’t for Yao, who clearly is the bridge between the two ball clubs. Though he played just eight years in the NBA — all with the Rockets — Yao has become a legend in Houston's professional sports history for being the face of the team during most of the 2000’s.

Last year, the Rockets handily beat Shanghai 131-94 with James Harden scoring 16 points and dishing out 10 dimes despite playing minimal minutes. Nene Hilario and Ryan Anderson, meanwhile, chipped in 12 points each.

One player to watch out for the Sharks is former BYU star and National College Player of the Year, Jimmer Fredette. Fredette dropped 33 points on the Rockets a year ago, and it should be expected he’ll dominate the touches again for Shanghai this time around.