The diverse world of the NBA has often seen some international basketball stars securing a position within the league and earning plaudits. Amongst them was the famed Chinese basketball star Yao Ming. Entering the NBA as a 22-year-old, Ming devoted over 9 years of his life to the Houston Rockets. Along the way, he earned numerous accolades and is still widely regarded as the greatest Chinese International to play in the NBA.

Despite his considerable success, Ming made a decision in 2011 to officially retire from the sport. This decision was made by the player after his time on the court had resulted in him sustaining a number of ankle and foot injuries. Ming’s absence from the game made many people question how the league and the player would have turned out if the latter had not hung up his shoes. The following article will explore just that.

The On-Court and Off-Court Potential of Yao Ming

The player established himself as a force to be reckoned with from the start. Standing at an impressive 7 foot 6, Ming’s height helped to give him an advantage as a center over his competitors. Despite this factor and his five years prior experience with the Shanghai Sharks, not many commentators and analysts believed that he would succeed. 76ers legend Charles Barkley famously said that he would “kiss Kenny Smith’s a*s” if Yao succeeded in scoring more than 19 points in one of his rookie games. Ming provided a sub-par performance during his first seven games but soon recovered and managed to score 20 points against the Lakers. Much to the amusement of fans, a star was born and Barkley had to make good on his proposed bet.

Things only improved for the player after his rookie season. He was named to the NBA All-Star team eight times, his final being the same year he retired. At one point, he was the league’s most efficient player, averaging a 55.9 FG% from the field. It is safe to assume that if Ming’s injuries had not deterred him from going away, he would have improved upon his offense game. By combining the latest techniques with his years of experience, he would have been a hard opponent to defend against.

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Ming’s stature gave him an advantage on defense. While it may not have worked over players who could move quickly and shoot three-pointers from a distance, it helped him to get close to his opponents and either block their shots, alter them, or assist in grabbing rebounds. This advantage could have worked well in the Rockets’ favor in today’s era.

Aside from his skills as a player, Ming had a big role in the NBA’s global community as well. Being one of the first players from China to play in the league, he was an inspiration to people around the world. His presence helped to bridge gaps between countries, both social and allegedly political. Furthermore, his presence helped to take the game of basketball to the international market, expanding its fanbase not only in China but also around the world.

The “Ming Dynasty” may face some struggles in today’s era

Despite his offensive capabilities, one thing that would have deterred Ming from progressing further in today’s time is his ‘pace’. While the player’s height comes out as an advantage in certain aspects, it would also cause him to move at a much slower pace on the court than his competitors. In a sport where players are required to be constantly and quickly on the move, Ming would have not fared well in this aspect. He especially would not have managed to compete with today’s players. According to an article by AZ Central, the pace of the players was one of the biggest contributing factors to the success of teams during the last NBA season.

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Yao Ming was easily prone to injuries. This factor was the main contributor to his early retirement. Even if Ming had ignored the same and continued to spend his time playing competitive games, it would have not done him much good during the latter part of his career. A combination of his injuries and advanced age would have probably resulted in him spending more time on the bench than on the court.

Had injuries not cut Yao’s career short, the landscape of the NBA could have been vastly different. His unique blend of size and skill had the potential to revolutionize the league. While it may not have placed him on the same level as one of his closest friends, it still would have continued his legacy as a prominent force to be reckoned with. As fans, we can only imagine what heights Yao could have reached without the specter of injuries. The true answer, in itself, will continue to be a mystery.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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