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China Yao Ming transitioned from a dominant NBA center to a respected basketball executive and entrepreneur, influencing both the sport and international relations.
Garmin International entered a multi-year global partnership with NBA basketball superstar Yao Ming, positioning him as a key figure in Garmin's marketing efforts.
Yao Ming partnered with NBA China to further basketball participation, develop youth basketball programs, and promote cultural exchange. This included announcing a partnership to launch the first-ever NBA Yao School in Beijing.
Aramco announced a multi-year partnership with the Yao Foundation aimed at building or renovating over 60 rural and urban community basketball and multipurpose courts over three years.
Monster, a manufacturer of headphones and audio/visual accessories, collaborated with Yao Ming to launch a co-branded line of products in China.
Yao Ming had a partnership with Reebok. The brand worked on plans to leverage this partnership during events like the Olympics.
Yao Ming was signed by Nike until the end of his rookie season.
Yao Ming had a deal with Pepsi and successfully sued Coca-Cola in 2003 for using his image without permission.
Following a previous dispute, Yao Ming eventually signed a deal with Coca-Cola for the 2008 Olympics.
Yao Ming held a partnership with Visa, endorsing their products.
Yao Ming appeared in commercials for Apple Inc., promoting their products.
Yao Ming was associated with McDonald's through various endorsements.
Yao Ming was born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China, to parents who were former professional basketball players. He began playing basketball at age nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks’ junior team at 13. He practiced ten hours a day, eventually joining the senior team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). After two finals losses, the Sharks, led by Yao, won their first CBA championship in his final year, where he averaged 38.9 points and 20.2 rebounds per game during the playoffs.
In 2002, Yao was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, marking him as the first international player to be drafted first overall without prior U.S. college basketball experience. His rookie year saw him voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game, a rare achievement for a rookie. He earned several accolades, including NBA All-Rookie First Team and Laureus Newcomer of the Year. Over his nine-year NBA career, all with the Rockets, Yao was an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He led the Rockets to the playoffs four times, achieving their first playoff series victory since 1997 in the 2009 postseason. Repeated foot and ankle injuries led to his retirement in 2011.
Following his NBA retirement, Yao Ming remained a prominent figure in basketball. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2023. In 2017, he was unanimously elected as chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, serving until 2024. Off the court, Yao is known for his philanthropic efforts, conservation work with WildAid, and entrepreneurial ventures, including Yao Family Wines. He co-wrote an autobiography, “Yao: A Life in Two Worlds,” and was the subject of the documentary “The Year of the Yao.”
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