Rare SI Photos of Yao Ming

Yao Ming played with the Houston Rockets from 2002-10 before injuries derailed his career. The 2002 No. 1 overall pick made eight All-Star teams before retiring. At 7'6", he was the tallest player when he was in the league. He is second in the Rockets’ all-time blocks list and sixth for total points and total rebounds. In celebration of both his recent induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame and his 36th birthday on Sept. 12, 2016, we present these rare SI photos of​ the player nicknamed "The Dynasty" and "The Great Wall.​"

Rare SI Photos of Yao Ming

Yao Ming

Al Tielemans

2000

Yao Ming

John Biever

2002

Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2002

Yao Ming and Elton Brand

Robert Beck

2002

Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal

John W. McDonough

2003

Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2003

Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2003

Yao Ming and Joe Smith

David E. Klutho

2004

Yao Ming and Patrick Ewing

John W. McDonough

2004 NBA Western Conference First Round

Yao Ming

Walter Iooss Jr

2004

Yao Ming and Steve Nash

Darren Carroll

2005

Dikembe Mutombo, Yao Ming and Patrick Ewing

Rick Olivier

2005

Patrick Ewing, Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo

Rick Olivier

2005

Yao Ming and his mother, Fang Fengdi

Rick Olivier

2005

Yao Ming

Greg Nelson

2006

Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2006

Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant

John W. McDonough

2006

Yao Ming

Heinz Kluetmeier

2007

Yao Ming

Heinz Kluetmeier

2007

Yao Ming

Gerard Rancinan

2008

Yao Ming

Gerard Rancinan

2008

LeBron James and Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2008 Summer Olympics

Yao Ming and Deron Williams

Bob Rosato

2008 Summer Olympics

Yao Ming

Andrew Loehman

2008

Yao Ming

Greg Nelson

2009 NBA Western Conference First Round

Yao Ming

John W. McDonough

2009 NBA Western Conference Semifinals