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NBA: 30 greatest international players in league history

By Daniel Lubofsky

SAN ANTONIO - MAY 09: Guard Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball past Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - MAY 09: Guard Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball past Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest international NBA players of all time: 10. Yao Ming

The Basketball Hall of Fame differs from that of other sports. For a player to be voted in, it doesn’t just have to be about what they did on an NBA hardwood, but could instead be for the impact they brought to the game as a whole.

When Yao Ming entered the NBA back in 2002, the league was dominated by some truly legendary big men such as Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. A No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets, Yao still managed to make his mark early on and insert himself into that conversation amongst his contemporaries.

He stood a ridiculous 7’6”, one of the tallest players ever who made Shaq look like a small forward. The playstyle of most guys his size would comprise of brute force down near the rim, but Yao’s skillset was much more complex than that, and it’s what helped him become nearly unstoppable.

Over the course of his career, Yao shot 46.5 percent between three and 10 feet as well as 43.1 percent from 10 to 16 feet. It was unusual to see a man of his towering presence operate anywhere outside the restricted area, but it was hard to argue with the efficiency with which he scored in such situations.

As you could imagine, his post fadeaway was unguardable with the ability to step outside after setting screens. The muscle memory developed helped make Yao an incredible free-throw shooter at 83.3 percent, creating an armor with no holes offensively.

Unfortunately for Yao, as much as his size helped him dominate the game, it also led to his downfall. He played in only 486 out of a possible 738 games — including absence for the entirety of the 2009-10 season. Foot and ankle pain was too much to overcome, forcing a retirement following the 2010-11 season in which he only played in five games.

Yao would average 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, numbers certainly worthy of the Hall of Fame. What sealed his entry despite only eight pro seasons was his global impact in helping to bring the game of basketball to his native China, a move that’s helped grow the sport in ways never thought possible prior to his arrival.