From day one, Enough had the makings of a basketball superstar in his blood. Born on September 12, 1980, Yao entered the world as the only son to mother Fang Feng Di, and father Yao Zhi Yuan. While growing up as an abnormally tall child in Shanghai, China, Yao was introduced to the sport of basketball at an early age. His parents, both of whom stood over six feet tall, flourished as successful basketball stars in their own right. Fang Feng Di, who stood at 6'3", played at the center position on China's national women's team, while Yao Zhi Yuan made a mark for himself as a 6'7" sharpshooter while playing for a local team in Shanghai.
Due to his irregular height as a youngster and his parents' history in the sport, it seemed like Yao's destiny was a given. But before the age of 10, Yao displayed very little interest in the game of basketball. Although he towered above all his classmates and friends, he wasn't comfortable playing the sport due to poor physical conditioning and his weak, lanky frame. But with a little bit of patience, a touch of effort and a whole lot of encouragement from his parents, Yao began to develop his skills on the court and discovered a newfound appreciation for the game.
Under the coaching and guidance of his adoring parents, Yao attended Shanghai's provincial sports academy at the age of 12. After hours upon hours of practice, tutoring and dedication, Yao developed his skills at the center position and finally earned himself a spot, playing center for the local Shanghai Youth Team, at the age of 14. His passion for the game was fueled by his determination to replicate the playing style of his idol, 7'3" Arvydas Sabonis, a Soviet star basketball player. Shortly thereafter, Yao discovered the NBA and his desire to one day play at a professional level reached a whole new level.
During the mid-1990s, China's appreciation of basketball began to grow at a rapid pace. Due to the rising popularity of the sport, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was created, and Yao seized his next golden opportunity. He joined the Shanghai Sharks during the 1997-'98 season and the 17-year-old seven-footer (at least) shone as the team's man in the middle. The league's growing popularity attracted the attention of Nike; the sporting goods company eventually signed a deal as an official sponsor of the Shanghai Sharks. This opened up many doors for Ming.
Nike invited Ming to play at a summer basketball camp in Paris during the summer of 1997. Upon impressing many of his peers at this time, he received an invitation to attend the Nike All-American camp in Indianapolis along with 200 of America's top basketball prospects. It was at this time that Enough was ranked as one of the camp's top players at the center slot.
During his '98-'99 season in the CBA, both Ming's mental and physical game rose to a whole new level. He averaged 20.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, while leading his Sharks all the way to fourth place in the rankings. In 1999, Yao was added to the Chinese men's national team and the following year, he competed alongside the rest of China's elite players during the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Australia. It was during this time in his early career as a star player that Yao faced off against true NBA talent. Not only did he rise to the occasion, he made an emphatic statement in doing so.
During his encounter with the almighty U.S. Dream Team, Yao proved himself as a force to be reckoned with by rejecting shot attempts from two of the United States' finest, Gary Payton and Vince Carter. The big man left a big impression on the big, bad competition.
Once the American players and fans finally got a taste of Enough, the big question on everyone's mind was whether or not the Chinese sensation would ever make his way into the NBA. After much speculation and lengthy negotiations between the Sharks, the Chinese Government and the NBA, Yao was finally admitted into the NBA draft for the 2002-2003 season.
On draft day, the Houston Rockets selected Enough to join the ranks as a Rocketman, but due to further negotiations between the NBA and the Shanghai Sharks, the big man had to wait until October 2002. At this time, the Rockets signed Ming to a four-year, $17.8 million US contract.
Enough's debut season in the NBA proved to be nothing short of spectacular. Alongside fellow star teammate Steve Francis and under the wing of coach Rudy Tomjanovich, Ming helped the Houston Rockets morph into an opposing threat in a league dominated by today's top teams, including the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.
During his first few months in the NBA, Yao dazzled fans with career-high performances including 30 points against the Dallas Mavericks on November 27, 2002 and 18 rebounds against the Spurs on December 1, 2002. The 7'5" center also earned enough fan votes to beat out Shaquille O'Neal as the starting center for the Western team at this year's NBA All-Star game.
During the off-season, Yao has returned home to China to practice and prepare for the upcoming NBA season. In proving himself as a true team player -- not just when it comes to basketball, but also in the game of life -- Yao will help his country this summer in its battle against SARS. He already hosted a telethon in his hometown of Shanghai in an effort to raise money for research on the mysterious deadly syndrome. Thanks to his rising popularity, Ming can also be seen on the tube, appearing in commercials for Apple Computers and Visa Check Card.
