Yao Ming plays down hero status
(CNN) -- In less than two years, Yao Ming has gone from being a cult sports hero in his native China to one of the world's most-recognized athletes. And he's only 23.
In 2002, Chinese basketball authorities, who control all player contracts and movement in that country, agreed to let the Shanghai native go to the United States and play professional basketball. The move allowed the Houston Rockets to pick Yao first overall in that year's NBA draft -- the first international player not to play at a U.S. college to be a top pick -- and sign him to a four-year, $17.8 million deal.
Houston pinned its hopes on the 7-foot-6, 310-pound center. After a tough first few NBA games, Yao settled in against the world's best players.
Averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during his first season, Yao earned a starting spot (over perennial pick Shaquille O'Neal) in the February 2003 NBA All-Star game and a unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.
His talent showed no signs of fading in his second NBA season: Yao scored a career-high 41 points February 22, 2004, against Atlanta, and fans voted him a starter on the Western Conference's All-Star team for the second straight year.
Yao's athletic success is matched by his popularity off the court, which has helped him win over new fans and millions of dollars in endorsements.
Competing teams often hold Asian-American nights when Yao comes to town, hoping he will lure new spectators, and many pages on the Rockets' official Web site are translated into Chinese.
Yao perhaps has scored best in the commercial world, securing endorsement deals with McDonald's, Reebok, Pepsi, Visa and Apple Computer, just to name a few.
Such a financial windfall might have seemed unlikely when Yao was growing up in Shanghai. But he did have an impressive basketball pedigree. Both his parents stand well over 6 feet tall and played for the Chinese national basketball teams.
As he did in 2000, Yao will represent his homeland this year at the Olympic Games.
Despite his success, Yao plays down his status as a star and hero to millions.
"I'm just one of the 1.3 billion Chinese," Yao told CNN last year, saying he was focused on improving his game.
