As saddened as I am about the lost potential that was Yao's NBA career, I am comforted by the knowledge that he will now be able to dedicate his attention full time to humanitarian work and helping to develop basketball in China with the Sharks.  As some of you may know, the catalyst for my love and devotion to the Mavericks (and in fact, the NBA) was when the Good Guys drafted Wang Zhizhi in the 2nd round all the way back in 1999.  While he, and subsequent Chinese players (Mengke Bateer, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue) have failed to set the NBA on fire...that doesn't stop a brotha from having a little pride, Do You Know What I Am Saying? 

Yao was an excellent (maybe not by historical standards) player, but so much more, he was a true ambassador of the game.  I mean hell, Shaq started things off with a little racism, and now (as far as we can tell) they have a deep mutual respect.  Yao made me proud to be Chinese, and he was also really tall. 

I'm sorry, but being an "ambassador to the game" is not worthy of a Hall of Fame selection.  No way Yao should end up there - his career and playoff achievements are lacking and his last few All-Star selections were 100% bogus. 

The guy SHOULD have had a HoF career, but he was never healthy enough - he only played 486 of 656 games in his 8-year career... By that standard, the only thing Greg Oden will be lacking to make the HoF is a Chinese citizenship...

I'm sorry, but being an "ambassador to the game" is not worthy of a Hall of Fame selection.  No way Yao should end up there - his career and playoff achievements are lacking and his last few All-Star selections were 100% bogus. 

The guy SHOULD have had a HoF career, but he was never healthy enough - he only played 486 of 656 games in his 8-year career... By that standard, the only thing Greg Oden should be lacking to make the HoF is a Chinese citizenship...

As much as it pains me to say it, I agree with this assessment.  Yao's on-the-court contributions are insufficient to make a logical argument for the HoF. The fact that he only had 4 seasons where he played in excess of 70% of games meant we never saw enough of him.  The closest parallel is a guy like Bill Walton, injury-plagued career that went supernova (or in Yao's case, verygoodnova) for a few years.  On the other hand, Walton's ceiling was much higher than Yao's.  Whatever Underdog, give the guy a freakin' plaque. 

As much as it pains me to say it, I agree with this assessment.  Yao's on-the-court contributions are insufficient to make a logical argument for the HoF. The fact that he only had 4 seasons where he played in excess of 70% of games meant we never saw enough of him.  The closest parallel is a guy like Bill Walton, injury-plagued career that went supernova (or in Yao's case, verygoodnova) for a few years.  On the other hand, Walton's ceiling was much higher than Yao's.  Whatever Underdog, give the guy a freakin' plaque. 

I love Yao, don't get me wrong... Helluva player, helluva guy. 

I just think putting him into the Hall of Fame kinda cheapens it for everyone else.  I feel similarly to this as I do about Derrick Rose being selected as MVP before he's really proven his longevity in the NBA - it's not supposed to be THAT easy...

always fall back on the fact that it is the BASKETBALL hall of fame, not the NBA hall of fame. 

Yao has had a HUGE impact on global basketball.  when the dust settles, if China's love affair with basketball maintains its current steam , then the fact that it was largely born with Yao (or atleast stepped up hugely to its current level), that might indicate Yao having a bigger impact on the global game of basketball than ANY player since MJ ---- a bigger impact on the GAME than TD or Dirk or Kobe, or whomever--- while not bigger impact on the court (obviously).