To kick off the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, Yao Ming was asked to give the first speech. The Houston Rockets and Chinese basketball legend delivered an incredible speech and an endearing moment. Yao told jokes, he told stories, and he praised everybody who helped get him to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
This speech is well worth your time.
Yao's career was cut short by foot injuries he couldn't control and couldn't avoid. But his presence in the NBA and globally was felt by millions of fans. He was a five-time All-NBA center and an eight-time All-Star. His work around the world and growing the game in China, specifically, make him more than worthy of this honor, but it doesn't happen without him being an unbelievable basketball player at the highest level.
