Yao Ming

Yao Ming currently serves as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador and is a globally recognized leader in sport whose influence extends far beyond the basketball court. He began his professional career with the Shanghai Sharks, leading the team to a Chinese Basketball Association championship before becoming the first international athlete to be selected as the number-one overall pick in the NBA Draft. During his NBA career, Yao played for the Houston Rockets and was selected to eight NBA All-Star Games. He earned multiple All-NBA honors and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He also represented China in three Olympic Games between 2000 and 2008, helping lead the national team to its strongest performances in Olympic competition.

Off the court, Yao became a spokesperson for numerous brands and played a pivotal role in expanding the NBA’s global reach, particularly in China and across Asia. Games featuring the Houston Rockets attracted large audiences both in arenas and through international broadcasts, drawing millions of viewers.

Following his playing career, Yao assumed significant leadership and governance roles within sport and public life. He previously served as Chairman of the Shanghai Sharks Basketball Club and was elected President of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2017, a role he held until 2024.

Yao’s commitment to service is further reflected in his philanthropic and humanitarian work. He founded the Yao Foundation in 2008 to support children and youth through education and sport, and he has been a leading advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. For this work, he received the UNAIDS Award for Outstanding Contributions to the AIDS Response. In recognition of his broader impact on sport, society, and global public welfare, the University of Hong Kong conferred upon Yao Ming the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.