Yao Ming of China became basketball's most unlikely new celebrity athlete in 2002 when he joined the

Houston Rockets. The first foreign athlete ever to become a number-one draft pick in the National

Basketball League (NBA), Yao stands seven-foot, five inches tall, and proved to be a surprisingly quick

and graceful player during his rookie season. He is a favorite among fans and sportswriters, coming

across as humble, modest, and immensely likable. He is also the first Chinese athlete to attain

international celebrity status.