Yao Ming
Yao Ming’s NBA career stood out both for his giant 7 foot, 6 inch frame, and for his status as one of the most successful and recognizable Chinese athletes of all time. After starting his career in the Chinese Basketball Association, Ming joined the Houston Rockets in 2002 and made three straight All Star games and two play-off appearances in his first three seasons, breaking stereotypes and raising awareness of Chinese culture along the way. Starting in his fourth season, though, a recurring broken bone in his foot forced him out of a significant number of games and eventually led him to retire in 2011 at 30 years old.