Yao Ming

44-Year-Old CenterC

Free Agent Foreign

2024 Stats

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Yao Ming in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Height 7'5"

Weight 296

DOB 9/12/1980

College China

Drafted 1st Rd, #1 in 2002

Yao Ming: Retiring from the NBA

CHouston Rockets

July 8, 2011

Yao has decided to retire from the NBA, Yahoo! Sports reports.

ANALYSIS
Yao was only able to play in five games during the last two seasons due to foot and ankle injuries. In his eight-year career in the NBA, Yao averaged 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33 minutes per game. It's sad to see the talented 7-6 big man pushed out of the game at only the age of 30, but his body simply couldn't stand the rigors of the NBA game any longer. He has informed the league office of his decision, but a formal announcement has yet to be made.

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

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Yao missed all of last season as he continued to recover from a fractured foot suffered late in 2008-09. There's no doubting Yao's talent when on the court – he's averaged 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks during his career, and he was only getting better with further development; in fact, he's shot 85.0 percent or better in each of his past four seasons from the line. He's 7-6, 310 with tremendous footwork and soft hands. But as is the case with Greg Oden, the main question is whether Yao's big frame can withstand the pounding. Not even counting missing all of last season, Yao averaged 22.8 DNPs over the previous four years. You simply can't select him expecting even close to a full season's worth of games played. Moreover, GM Daryl Morey has already said Houston will limit Yao's minutes in 2010-11 and may even sit him some games when the Rockets play back-to-backs. Even so, Yao's upside will be hard to pass up if he slips too far in drafts.

One of the elite pivots in the game, Yao's latest foot fracture will likely sideline him for the entire season, though there's some chance he could return down the stretch. When healthy, Yao is one of the most efficient offensive players in the game, hitting more than half his shots from the floor and more than 85 percent from the line. He'll also pull down 10 boards and average two blocks - essentially he's elite in all the key big-man categories. Yao has also improved his passing of late, averaging a career-high 2.3 assists per game last year. Of course, none of this means anything unless he's healthy.

Yao once again experienced the best of times and worst of times last season. On one hand he established career highs in all of the defensive categories (10.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg, .5 spg) as well as in assists (2.3 apg), while maintaining his very efficient shooting from the line (85%) and the floor (51%). On the other, he played in only 55 games, the third year in a row that he’s missed at least 25 due to injury. Over the last few seasons Yao has developed an aggressiveness to his game that, when matched with his awesome size (7-6, 310), allows him to control the paint on both ends of the court. But questions about his ability to stay healthy make it difficult to depend on Yao as your franchise player, and that keeps him from challenging Amare Stoudemire as the best center in the league.

For Yao Ming, it was the best of times and the worst of times. On one hand he continued his progression toward becoming one of the best big men in basketball, with new per-game career highs in points (25.0), blocks (2.0), free throw percentage (86.2% on 8.6 attempts) and assists (2.0) to go along with strong rebounding (9.4) and field goal percentage (51.6). On the other hand, he played in a career-low 48 games, which kept his fantasy owners from being able to take full advantage of his gaudy numbers. Over the last couple of seasons Yao has developed an aggressiveness to his game, especially on offense, that when matched with his awesome size (7-6, 310 pounds) and skills make him incredibly difficult to defend. But questions about his ability to stay healthy and whether he will continue to get his shots on a Rockets team full of perimeter gunners may slide him down a notch on draft boards to the bottom of the first round.

Yao missed significant time last season because of an infected toe and later a broken foot, but showed he was healthy at the FIBA World Championships. What was encouraging about his shortened season was that Yao averaged a career-high 34.2 minutes per game. Stamina had been an issue for him in the past. Yao’s becoming a dominant player in the post and handles the ball well for guy his size. Yao, who averaged a double-double last year, has a nice turnaround jumper and makes his free throws. Yao should benefit from a presumably healthier Tracy McGrady as well. Back problems limited McGrady last season, and McGrady’s absence reduced the space in which Yao had to operate.

Yao is the complete package for a fantasy center. All the assets we look for from the position – rebounds, blocked shots, field goal percentage – and the added touch of being one of team’s scoring threats. He takes a back seat to Tracy McGrady, but Yao should get 12-14 shots per game. Yao is also a career 80-percent shooter from the line, a rarity among seven-footers. The addition of Stromile Swift to play power forward should give him some help with the dirty work underneath.

A legitimate top-10 pick in eight-category leagues, Yao will help you in points, boards, blocks and free-throw percentage, and he'll carry your team in FG percentage - 52.2 percent last season. Yao is still just 24 years old, is still adjusting to the physical demands of the NBA game, and he has a tremendous work ethic and desire to get better. And the addition of Tracy McGrady this offseason will keep teams from collapsing on Yao in the post.

Yao showed some of the skilled footwork and deft touch that make him potentially unstoppable at seven-foot-five, and a year of NBA experience should make him even better this season. Don't expect him to outdo Shaquille O'Neal just yet, but already Yao is a top-10 center.

More Fantasy News

Yao Ming: (Ankle) Rehab Progress is Encouraging

CHouston Rockets

May 19, 2011

Yao (ankle) received an encouraging update from his doctors, saying the stress fracture is healing well and "everything looks good," the Houston Chronicle reports.

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CHouston Rockets

March 10, 2011

Yao still wants to return to the Rockets if his chronically injured foot permits, the Houston Chronicle reports.

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CHouston Rockets

January 6, 2011

Yao underwent surgery Thursday to repair the fracture in his left ankle, the Houston Chronicle reports.

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Yao Ming: Could be Dealt

CHouston Rockets

December 27, 2010

The Rockets are engaged in trade discussions about Yao (ankle) with several teams, Yahoo! Sports reports.

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