The Year of the Yao

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1h 28m | Documentary

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Yao Ming, a 7'6" Chinese basketball phenomenon, had one of the most exciting rookie years in NBA history. In the NBA, Yao Ming scored an average of 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.74 blocks per game, earning him unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. He started as center for the Western Conference in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game after ranking fourth overall in All-Star balloting with 1,286,324 votes and was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December and February. Yao was also selected for the 2003-2004 All-Star team for the second consecutive year.

Off the court, Yao appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and on the covers of Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN the Magazine, SLAM, Inside Stuff and Basketball Digest. He also received the 2003 Laureus World Newcomer of the Year award and was featured in television commercials for McDonalds, Pepsi, Visa, Apple Computer and Gatorade.

During the off season, he travels back to China to play for the Chinese National Team. In the summer of 2003, Yao hosted China's first telethon, which raised funds to battle SARS. This film shows him as he undertakes his first year in the NBA as center for the Houston Rockets, knowing that he represents the hopes of 1.2 billion people in his homeland.