Rockets will retire Yao Ming's jersey on Feb. 2
No. 11 will tower over everyone in the Toyota Center for eternity.
Houston Rockets team owner Les Alexander told reporters Friday during Media Day that the team will retire Yao Ming's jersey on Feb. 2 of this upcoming season.
Yao was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a Rocket earlier this month as part of a star-studded induction class alongside Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal.
During his induction speech, Yao passionately declared that he was "a Texan, and a Houston Rocket for life."
Related: Inducting Yao Ming into the Hall of Fame is a no-brainer
Having joined the Rockets as the first overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, it was prophesied that the 7-foot-6 Yao would continue on the long tradition of bigs in Houston. And while injuries cut short his career, he made eight All-Star games, five All-NBA teams, and finished his abrupt career with averages of 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks.
Moreover, Yao was, and continues to be, and exemplary representative for both the Rockets and the NBA. His personality and charisma bridged cultural barriers, and he remains actively involved in charitable efforts around the world.
Yao will soon join Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Calvin Murphy, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Carroll Dawson in the rafters.