After being forced to end his playing career prematurely due to multiple foot injuries, recently inducted Hall of Famer Yao Ming has returned to where he spent all his nine NBA seasons.
The former eight-time all-star appeared at the podium inside the Toyota Center in Houston for the first time since 2011, but now as a team owner of the Chinese Basketball Association's Shanghai Sharks.
Yao's team became the first from his home country to play in the United States as they faced his former team, the Houston Rockets. It was definitely a happy occasion for the 7-foot-6 center, and he could not help but be overwhelmed with the news of having his number 11 jersey be brought up to the arena's rafters on February 2, and at the same time reminisce the good old days he's had in the city. Per Fran Blinebury of nba.com:
“It just happened too soon.”
“It’s something I couldn’t have dreamed of, I appreciate everything Houston did for me, the opportunity to come over here and play. Honestly from my first day to my last day I cannot think to make it any different.”
“I said it before, but so many nights when I walked through that court or play on that court that I look up to those jerseys and know that those jerseys are spirit of the team of Houston, those jersey are honored and those jerseys are motivation …I would be honored to continue with them. I hope my career here is something that meets the expectation of basketball fans.”
His impact to the game and making it one of the world's most popular sports is something that cannot be measured, which has been one of the reasons why he still receives warm welcomes everywhere he goes. But in Houston it is extra special for him the city will always have a special place in his heart:
“The first game in Houston, a very warm welcome at the airport. The was something that really surprised me and almost made me cry. That first night that (teammates) Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley introduced me at the Compaq Center.
“Also when we made the playoffs for the first time, playing with Tracy McGrady and Dikembe (Mutombo) and Shane (Battier) and all those guys. Playing hard on the court, making jokes, laughing in locker room. Those are experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime.”
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