China Slams Yao for Neglecting National Team

After two years of persistent left foot injuries, the Chinese great retires at 30

(AP) - The NBA's version of the Ming Dynasty is done. After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world's most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired. Yao made it official today, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30. Yao says he will return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He plans to continue his philanthropic work with his Yao Foundation. More»

Bride stars in national b'ball team

(NEWSER) - Gargantuan Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and his Chinese girlfriend—a hoops star in her own right—got hitched in Shanghai yesterday, People magazine reports. The 7'6" Ming and 6'2" Ye Li held the ceremony and reception at the lush Shangri-La hotel with 70 guests—and close to 100 reporters and photographers camped outside. More»

Chinese coach claims playing for Bucks would stunt forward's growth

(NEWSER) - The coach of the Chinese national hoops team has a new reason for Yi Jianlian not to go to the Bucks, who recently drafted him 6th overall: the team's abundance of young frontcourt players would retard his growth as a player. Yi's agent had formerly cited Milwaukee's tiny Chinese-American community as a reason for the 19-year-old to play elsewhere. More»

Lakers star makes inroads with new Chinese foundation

(NEWSER) - Yao Ming may be an NBA star, but the most popular basketball player in China is Kobe Bryant—he's plastered on billboards and even once had his own reality show on Chinese TV. The Lakers guard has made a deliberate push in the world's largest nation, and he's now establishing the Kobe Bryant China Fund to benefit education and health. "I think he can be a one-man State Department," a financier working with Bryant told the Wall Street Journal. More»

(NEWSER) - Dikembe Mutombo officially called it quits today after an 18-year NBA career. "I had a wonderful, wonderful ride," said the eight-time All-Star, injured in Tuesday's game. Tomorrow, fittingly, he receives yet another award for humanitarian service. The 42-year-old has long been involved in efforts for his native Congo, most notably by leading efforts to build a hospital there and personally donating nearly $20 million, the Houston Chronicle reports. More»