Houston Rockets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

2. Yao Ming (C) — No. 1 pick in 2002 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Rockets):  486 GP, 19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 2.7 TOV, 52.4 FG%, 83.3 FT%

A 7’6″ giant with an incredibly soft touch, Ming left an indelible mark on the league on a number of levels. Most notably, Ming was able to tap into the enormous China market like no NBA player before him.

With the obvious assistance of his Chinese compatriots, Ming was voted an All-Star in each of his eight seasons in the league. That being said, Ming’s numbers hardly meant these equated to token appearances.

Over a three-year stretch from 2005-06 to 2007-08, Ming averaged 23.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting at a 51.4 percent clip. As a team, the Rockets made the playoffs in five of Ming’s first seven seasons in the league. Unfortunately for Ming and the Rockets, his injury issues that would eventually end his career.

The downside of possessing such an enormous frame is the stress this places on the lower extremities. In the case of Ming, this began in 2005 with surgery on the big toe of his foot. The ensuing seasons would feature a variety of other lower body injuries, such as a fracture in his left foot, a fracture in left ankle and eventually, a third and final fracture in his left foot.

In all, Ming played his final game at age 30. After missing just two total games over his first three seasons, Ming missed a subsequent 173 games over the following five seasons, including the entire 2009-10 season due to the recurring break in his left foot.

During his career, Ming played the majority of his time under the guidance of head coach Jeff Van Gundy. Just recently, Van Gundy penned an article for The Players Tribune, which detailed the joy he experienced coaching Ming for four seasons:

"“Much like Tim Duncan and Steve Nash, Yao was a unifying leader. I believe that if a great player is also a compassionate, caring, unselfish teammate, then his team’s chemistry is going to be exceptional. That’s what Yao did every day, in every way….The everydayness of his routine is what made his work ethic one of the best I have ever seen.”"

As recognition for not only for achievements with the Rockets, but also his play with the Chinese Men’s Team, Ming was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. At the start of this calendar year, Ming had his No. 11 jersey retired by the Rockets.