Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明; Pinyin: Yáo Míng) (born September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese professional basketball player and is considered one of the best centers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) today. He is also among the tallest of players in the NBA standing at a height of 7'6". He is the only son of his father Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for five years, and now plays center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He was selected by Houston as the 1st overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and signed with them on October 21, 2002.

   据英国通讯社报道，中国田径明星刘翔告诉媒体，姚明将在8月北京奥运会前康复，率领中国男篮争战奥运比赛。

作为连续六届的NBA全明星中锋，姚明本赛季因为应力性骨折无法代表休斯顿火箭队参加NBA剩余的两个月比赛。在接受手术治疗后，姚明一直在积极的恢复性治疗当中，以期参加在8月10日进行的首场中国对美国的奥运会男篮小组赛。

作为姚明的朋友，也是中国体育界的旗帜之一，刘翔在周三通过翻译表示：“他(姚明)说他的脚已经好很多，并且已经开始训练，他认为自己参加奥运会没有任何问题。”

刘翔是目前男子110米栏世界纪录的保持者，28日他参观了纽约帝国大厦。在第86层的观景台上刘翔表示，自己正在准备周六晚上的锐步大奖赛，而姚明跟他说要好好享受这个夏天的北京奥运会。刘翔说：“姚明刚刚告诉我，对待奥运像平时一样就好了。”