Rockets, no. 11 retired?

Sorry gang, but I don't think Yao's #11 jersey belongs in the rafters with other great Rocket stars.

Thoughts?

"There is, however, another change he heard could be in the works. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in November he expected to retire Yao’s No. 11, an honor Yao said he did not expect on all those nights he looked at the Toyota Center rafters."

I agree with you D_J, Ming does not deserve that with only 8 years in the league, less than 32 years of age and a boat load of injuries that kept him sidelined for his last few years. Drexler, Olajuwon, The Big E are far more deserving. Not that Ming was not good, but he did not last very long and his stats, while decent, are not indicative of deserving a 'retired' number in my opinion.

Well, in meeting with team execs, coach and team lawyer during an event a few years ago, it became quite clear how Yao Ming globalized the Rockets viewership expanding beyond continental USA to China on a day-to-day game basis. The numbers were astounding. Yao Ming did something the franchise and most if not all other NBA teams have never experienced before. I'm sure that will be mentioned during the ceremonies. I could be wrong.

I was never impressed with his play.

Well, in meeting with team execs, coach and team lawyer during an event a few years ago, it became quite clear how Yao Ming globalized the Rockets viewership expanding beyond continental USA to China on a day-to-day game basis. The numbers were astounding. Yao Ming did something the franchise and most if not all other NBA teams have never experienced before. I'm sure that will be mentioned during the ceremonies. I could be wrong.

THIS.

Restaurant in your name = HoF.

I don't doubt he brought different things to the franchise but he never did play that well in my opinion. They should have gotten rid of him his 4th year. His restaurant also sucks. The last time I saw him in person was in a Chinese restaurant on Bellaire. He was a total asshole with the waitstaff.

Jersey does not deserve to be retired. Good player, when healthy, but not good enough to be retired. Rockets are getting to be like the Astros - far, FAR too many retired jersey numbers.

I actually believe Yao was a very good, almost great player (he was certainly no Olajuwon, but then again, few could compare favorable to him). He had great vision and a touch that few big men will ever have. However, his injuries and the resulting lack of longevity should preclude him from "jersey-retirement" status based on his play. If his jersey is retired, it will be based on his off-the-court intangibles and his role as ambassador for the game to a country of over 1.3 billion people.

Well I heard that he will be voted into Hall of Fame not for his play but for being a basketball ambassador, specifically to China.

Its more or less a political move by Alexander, whether or not Yao actually deserves it or not. When you calculate the volume of chinese people who will be viewing any such ceremony thats revenue to the Rockets. Thats also a ploy to keep such a group as a loyal fan base and continue to watch them play. Obviously once its done, you lose fans but the potential of some continuing to watch and buy Rocket merchandise is still a high number. You get them hooked and they will stay loyal. More money hopefully means great players then hopefully means NBA championships.

He might have been HOF-capable, but his time was short. He was an ambassador for the game for china, but to retire his number? No.

The only #11 the Rockets should be retiring is Vernon Maxwell.

I never thought he was a great player. But, it did do wonders for the viewership of the game overseas in China and the large contengent of Chinese americans here locally that attended games. So I am sure that is the angle they are looking at.....expecially with Lin now playing....They are looking to grow the home attendence of that segment of the population.

I went to his resturant once and his mother was in there. I have never seen a woman that tall before in my life. She had to be every bit of 6'10"........She was even a few inches taller than his dad...............Damn!

If i knew the prerequisites for retiring a jersey i could intellegibly state ya or nay to retiring the jersey.
#11 was worn by the one man that can tout that he shut Michael Jordan down. Unfortunately, his love for rolling the ivory cubes on the street corner was to great.

IMO...to have a jersey in the rafters should have several requirements:
1- Longevity with team.
2-Stellar stats over a sustained period. 8-10 years
3-Have been a great ambassador for the team.
4-Multiple all star appearances.

Yao narrowly missed numbers 1&2, #3 he was more that adaquate. #4 to me should be with an asterisk.....1billion plus voters.......hell he was selected over Shag when Shaq was the most dominant big man in the game. Not because he was better than Shaq but because he received more votes.

So I guess my case for the jersey retirement is made.

NO is my vote.