The small giant ,Yao Ming, put on the famous orange jacket at the headquarter of the Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside O’Neal, Iverson and other legendary players. Yao is the first finalist of the Hall of Fame not only from within China but also from the whole of Asia. 

Being in last place, Yao put on his famed orange jacket with the help of his friend—O’Neal. “I felt really dwarfed when I entered the Hall of Fame. I could see pictures of great players and celebrities hung on the wall and see their stories. I am really honored and appreciate that my photo is hanging along with theirs,” said Yao. He also said his dream has come true in becoming a finalist. This honor is just a stage of his life; he still has a long way to go to gain other achievements. 

The Hall of Fame was set up in 1959, aiming to preserve the memory of great basketball players, coaches, referees and other contributors. Up until now 345 finalists have entered the Hall of Fame. Before Yao, only 15 finalist were non-U.S. citizens. Yao is the first finalist from China and indeed from Asia. 

Affected by injuries, Yao did not lead Houston Rockets to any brilliant achievements, which saw him challenged by some sceptics. However, from a statistical view, Yao averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, which makes him comparable to numerous great centers. 

‍‍‍Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin‍‍