Yao Ming Timeline

Yao Ming was born in Shanghai, China in 1980.

 

 Nike invited Yao to attend a summer basketball camp in Paris, France in 1997.

 

Yao debuted in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 1997 with the Shanghai Sharks.

 

  Yao was added to the Chinese Men’s National team in 1999.

 

Yao played in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics.

 

  In the year 2001 Yao was picked first in the NBA Draft and he signed with the Houston rockets.

 

  In 2002 Yao received more votes than Shaq and beat him out for the starting position of center in the NBA All-Star game.

 

  Yao participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

 

  In 2005 Yao made a documentary called the Year of the Yao.  He also had surgery on his toe requiring him to miss 21 games.

 

  In April 2006 Yao broke a bone in his left foot and had to miss four months.  In September of this year, Yao turned 26 years old.