NBA: The 25 least deserving Hall of Famers of all-time

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Yao Ming (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) /

NBA: The 25 least deserving Hall of Famers of all-time: 21. Yao Ming

Stats: 19 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg

He was incredibly kind, had an amazing heart, and wouldn’t hurt a fly. That said, we aren’t letting Yao Ming off the hook.

With seemingly all of China behind him, Yao was always going to be an All-Star. Even with Shaquille O’Neal as the clear-cut better player, Yao was still pushed as a starter in those mid-season classics.

Was Yao a great player? He sure was. He wrapped up his career with averages of 19 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a night. Also, during the heart of his prime, he routinely dropped over 22 points a game and over 10 boards.

But, despite having solid teammates and even Tracy McGrady, the Houston Rockets struggled big-time under the bright lights. Only once did Yao reach the second round. Not only did his squads fail to live up to expectations in the postseason but his career was truncated due to foot injuries.

We simply find it hard to believe that a player who suited up for only eight seasons and was never truly dominant, should be a Hall of Famer. If he lasted a bit longer, we would be singing a different tune. But the fact of the matter is, he didn’t.