Yao Ming’s Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

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our Dikembe Mutombo Bill Russell and Bill Walton to the Hall of Fame, ladies and gentlemen, Yao Ming, well, I imagine this in the long run, but even when I'm finally here I still feel nervous, I can tell you that after having asked the Chamma question. Chamma again, how do you feel, how do you feel about this tonight. I can tell you that I am nervous, especially after being under the watch of three legends, former NBA historian, mr. Alleva Hall of Fame Executive Committee, ladies and gentlemen, good evening, when I heard that I would be the first speaker tonight, I think maybe someone made a mistake, don't laugh because I think maybe because I think this place is great in absentia because First of all, I need more practice than him.

I would like to sync. Hello, fan committee. It's a great honor. Your recognition made this night a memorable memory for me, although due to my career and it's too early for me, I treasure each and every one of them. Right now I am grateful for my time on the court and for your recognition tonight. I'd like to sync up my sponsors right here, your Russell IRA member, Nicob. Well, I remember, I remember you invited me to your house for dinner and to Seattle San Cielo in my newbie. year and that night your device and your old voice really relaxed me in my family in my first year and welcomed me to this country, they could see you supporting me until the end and your device and your encouragement really helped me from a good start.

I hate to say it to the end, but to the extent that you are the first guy who caught me while I was waking up from my foster and you encourage me and tell me to stay positive, I would always remember that you can be, I put you, I river because he. It seems like the oldest industry, we've been playing together for five years, all the great memories, all the great memories of women on and off the court, and nothing can break the bond between us, not even your elbow in my hand. practice court, as you know.

I am from China and I traveled back to

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since dear, my parents were

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players in the 1970s. I heard so many stories about them as players and as a lawnmower, most importantly as a good person. I am very lucky, your son could be the gift. The gift I got from you to get funding is not just the holdup, but the way you taught me how to think and how to make decisions, of course, and the soft touch I had at the free throw line, which is why I have about 10,000 free throws. less than Shaq on Hill, my wife Lee is here today tonight, we met when we were high school age, you know how much you know how much she means to me and thank you for being my life partner, our lovely daughter Amy is a treasure for both.

You can, we all, we all wish we could be here today, but because of the first week of her school and her having to live with the consequences when she chooses soccer or basketball, yeah, I'll walk down because it would fix that instead of fixing my basketball trip. . started on the back of a coach Willie, drum

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is a bike when you take me to my first basketball practice. I would like to congratulate our Denver this year, thank you for your work and the efforts of so many children, including me, a benefit of You are going crazy, you are my coach at Shanghai Sharks and you take us, you let us go to the first and probably only a champion.

Surely we have done it until now before I went through the NBA. You gave up too much and sacrificed too much in that year. in those years, even at a time when you lost your wife in a battle with cancer, thank you for that, we will never get a water tank, loss tank, the city of Shanghai Joe, hello sharks and C B and C Bailey that they did everything they did. They were able to prepare me, lift me up, train me and help me prepare for the next c

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enge of my life. There is an old saying in China that if the mural is made of brown, one can dress appropriately, if the mirror is history, one can predict the changes. and under one of the murals there are people that one can take advantage of their own weakness and strength.

First I would like to take a moment to mention some mirrors in my life. I would like to mention mr. motorcycle and he was a legend The legend of the Chinese patrol attacked my house and more than 80 years ago Mr. mom mr. McGowen came here to Springfield to study basketball after he returned to China and dedicated his life to making Chinese possible and today the CBA championship cup is named after him. Copies became the goal of life for every CBA play that is broadcast. He is not the first Chinese to play in the NBA and the honors belong to Mr.

Wan juju was a pioneer for all future Chinese players who dream of coming to the NBA, he cleared the way for us and made many sacrifices. I learned a lot from him, even though he can't be here today. I want to thank many people. I know the story that began when the Rockets dropped me in 2002 and not many people know how much effort rock is putting in before I write and throughout my career thanks also unless Alexander Mike Gober Kara Dawson bastard there Maury and Keith Jones or make me feel in I arrived home in Houston on the first day.

Steve Francis gave me a big high-five and a big welcome. Steve had been a perfect big brother to me since that day. Cuttino Mobley invited me to his house for something called soul food. but please excuse me for my beginnings in English back then, I heard sounds like salty food, which confused me a little. I sent you Steve Tino and everyone on my first walking teams to make me feel so welcome as a coach. Rudy Tomjanovich is famous for saying never. saying never underestimate the heart of a champion Rudy has shown that it is not only on the court but also off it, especially the battle of the East was cancer Rudy, you have inspired me to be better than I can be when Jim Van Gandhi came in with Patrick Ewing and The best thing Doc's coaching staff really made us a tough defense team like he always does was t-mac Shane Battier Reeve Austin would become a young and talented team, especially with Dikembe Mutombo, that team was not only competitive but also a team with a brotherhood.

I always remember Coach Van Gundy once saying that the best opportunity could also be the last opportunity, that is very true in basketball and in life. My last boss, my last NBA coach, was Rick Adam, he helped us develop so many talented players like Carl Landry Luis Scola in the Aaron Brooks era We had a great run in 2008 with our good season, but unfortunately my injury interrupted this scab and my charm with rock is too soon. I will always remember my time with the Houston Rockets as some of the best time of my life as a basketball player.

I was one of the most blessed players on the planet. I played against some of the best athletes in awards. A great athlete not only has great teammates but also great ponies. A great opponent pushed me, pushed us forward. A great opponent like Shaquille O'Neal. Review every game we play. Remind me of the old saying that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Thanks for that. I consider Huston my second home, so I want to say something to the people of Houston. You supported me, you were by my side in a good and bad scene, in the bad times, you gave me strength to move forward.

I will always consider you my family. I'm a Texan and a Houston Rockets for life. This whole war will not be possible without a vision of Jerry Stone and an MBA, thanks to Darius Davison and Adams/Kim Bologna and everyone at the MBA for their kindness and support, finally to my team, Yong Eric, Bill, Daffy Sanders with the dressed as Larry and Lou, how we all look older and fatter than our First night, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to pay my respects to dr. Naismith and all the 361 previous Hall of Famers and all those who have contributed to the game of basketball around the world over the last 125 years, all these individuals and stars, individuals and our stars, and together they form a legacy.

They have to pay for sorry for my English aside all of them are stars to begin with all these individuals are stars and together they formed galaxies in the university of a basketball the game has inspired a construction of people around war as one of They would do my part to continue the great game of basketball and we are all eager to see the stars of tomorrow rise and shine. Thank you again for this great honor, thank you.