NBA Star Yao Ming to Retire From Basketball

Chinese 7-foot-6 superstar Yao Ming has decided to retire from the NBA after eight seasons, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Ming has submitted paperwork to league offices within the past 48 hours on his intentions to retire.

The former number one draft pick set the league on fire during his initial years with the Houston Rockets. Ming has a career average of 19 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, and 1.9 blocks per game.

The eight-time all-star was plagued by injuries in his last years with the Rockets. He played in only five games during the 2010-11 season and played in all 82 games just twice during his eight year career.

While Ming was an effective player for Houston, many will wonder what could have been if he could have avoided numerous foot injuries.

Ming was considered to be one of China's most recognizable athletes and frequently appeared in Forbes' list of top Chinese celebrities.

One of Ming's lasting legacies will be the popularization of basketball in the nation of China. While Ming was in the NBA, the league made a concerted effort to showcase the sport in China, a move likely to have long lasting impacts.

Stay tuned as more details emerge.