Yao Ming to retire

**ISUAgronomist** · 07-08-2011, 02:11 PM

Report: Yao Ming to retire | ProBasketballTalk

**CyJack13** · 07-08-2011, 02:38 PM

That's too bad, but it's probably the best choice for him. His body just couldn't support all of his weight. He had a very good career, and is one of the most influential NBA players ever.

**drose1** · 07-08-2011, 02:38 PM

Good, i'm tired of this guy

**mwitt** · 07-08-2011, 03:07 PM

Isn't his contract up? With a good chance of a shortened season next year, I'm surprised he didn't sign with a contender and try to provide 15 minutes per game off the bench. Must be in pretty bad shape.

**jbindm** · 07-08-2011, 03:09 PM

That's a shame. I always enjoyed watching him play. I wonder how his NBA career would've played out if he hadn't spent so much of his offseason time playing for the Chinese national team. I also wonder what the Rockets will do (once the lockout ends). That's a roster designed to rotate around Yao.

**Bubbahotep** · 07-08-2011, 03:13 PM

I thought he retired 5 years ago, but then again, I thought Abe Vigoda was dead until that Snickers commercial.

**CyJack13** · 07-08-2011, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by jbindm

That's a shame. I always enjoyed watching him play. I wonder how his NBA career would've played out if he hadn't spent so much of his offseason time playing for the Chinese national team. I also wonder what the Rockets will do (once the lockout ends). That's a roster designed to rotate around Yao.

That's a good point. He played in pretty much every international competition from the time he was a teenager until the last few seasons, all those extra games obviously took a toll on his body. It's a lot of pressure to have basically an entire country's basketball program on your shoulders.

**jbindm** · 07-09-2011, 09:24 AM

He just has a really unique skill set for being 7'6. I don't think we'll ever see another player quite like him. His unselfishness was a blessing and a curse. On one hand, how many 7 footers can control a game without having to score 20-30 points? His passing skills and floor vision were that good. On the other hand, there were definitely times when the Rockets would have been better off if he had just looked to score every time he touched the ball a la Shaq. His low post game was good enough and he was big enough to do that, too. Definitely not an all time great, but absolutely a one of a kind player.