20 Iconic Athletes That Were Unfortunately Made of Glass

Yao Ming

Image Source: Troy Taormima/USA TODAY Sports

In a league filled with giant humans, Ming stood tall above the rest. The 7-foot-6 center was selected with the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets out of Shanghai. Ming was an international superstar, beloved by both his home country and domestic NBA fans.

Although many believed he was ‘too’ big to be successful in the league, Ming silenced the critics by putting together a quality seven-year career in which he averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds. Eventually though, Ming’s sheer size weighed on him. He was forced to miss nearly the entirety of the 2011 season with a foot injury. A third fracture of his left foot led to his retirement at the age of 30.