Andrew Pace
There have been several tall Asian basketball players in the history of the NBA. Yao Ming, a Chinese former professional basketball player, was the tallest player in the NBA at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m). Sun Mingming, another Chinese basketball player, was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters and became the tallest player in their history. Sun Yue, a 2.06-meter-tall Chinese point guard, signed a multi-year contract with the Lakers. Yi, dubbed Little Yao Ming, is 2.3 meters tall and from Shenzhen, China. These players have broken stereotypes and made an impact on the basketball world, showing that height is not a barrier to success in the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average height | 7 feet (2.1 m) and above |
| Example of a tall Asian basketballer | Yao Ming (7 feet 6 inches/2.29 m) |
| Another example | Yi (2.3 m) |
| Another example | Sun Mingming |
| Another example | Sun Yue (2.06 m) |
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What You'll Learn
Yao Ming: the tallest NBA player at 7 ft 6 inches
Yao Ming, born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China, is recognized for his remarkable height, standing at an impressive 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall. He is the son of two former professional basketball players, Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi, who were also of notable height. Growing up, Yao displayed early signs of his future stature, weighing more than twice as much as the average Chinese newborn.
Yao's basketball journey began when he was just nine years old, and by the time he was ten, he had already reached a height of 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m). Sports doctors predicted that he would continue to grow, estimating a final height of 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). Determined to pursue his passion, Yao joined the Shanghai Sharks' junior team of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) at the age of 13, dedicating himself to rigorous training.
His hard work paid off, and he eventually advanced to the Sharks' senior team, where he showcased his talent with impressive averages of 10 points and 8 rebounds per game during his rookie season. Yao's remarkable height, combined with his skills on the court, caught the attention of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2002, he was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Standing at 7 feet 6 inches, Yao Ming held the distinction of being the tallest active player in the NBA during his final season. His height, combined with his athletic abilities, made him a formidable presence on the court. Yao's success in the NBA not only brought him recognition but also contributed to his popularity among fans, particularly in his home country of China, where he became a symbol of modern confidence.
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Yi: almost 7 ft tall at 16, from Shenzhen
Standing at 2.3 meters tall, Yi Jianlian is a Chinese basketball player from Shenzhen. Affectionately known as "Little Yao Ming," Yi was almost seven feet tall at 16 years old and was already touted as a future NBA star. Both his parents were team handball players; his mother, who is 5'8", played for the Chinese national team, and his father is 6'5". Yi started playing basketball in the first grade and was singled out for his height at an early age.
Yi's journey to the NBA was challenging. He admitted that playing in the NBA was tough and that the pressure got to him. In one early game, he fouled out in 16 minutes, managing only three points, two steals, a blocked shot, and a turnover. In November 2007, Yi faced Yao Ming for the first time in a highly anticipated match-up that drew an estimated 200 million Chinese viewers. Despite Yi's impressive performance, Yao proved to be the better player, leading the Rockets to victory with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.
Yi has faced criticism and doubts throughout his career. American college coach Dale Brown suggested that the prevalence of exceptionally tall Chinese basketball players, such as Yi, could be due to the use of performance-enhancing substances or genetic engineering. However, Yi's height may be attributed to genetic factors, as his parents are also relatively tall.
Despite the challenges and doubts, Yi persevered and made his mark in the NBA. He became one of the tallest players in the league, standing at 7 feet tall, and played for several teams during his career. Yi's height and skills on the court have helped break barriers and pave the way for future Asian players in the NBA.
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Sun Mingming: the tallest player in the Globetrotters' history
Sun Mingming, born on August 23, 1983, is a former Chinese professional basketball player. Standing at 2.36 metres (7 feet 9 inches) tall, he is the tallest professional basketball player in the world, according to the Guinness World Records. Mingming began playing basketball at the age of 15 and played for several American minor league teams, including the USBL team Dodge City Legend, the ABA team Maryland Nighthawks, and the IBL team Grand Rapids Flight.
In 2007, Mingming was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters, becoming the tallest player in their history. However, he never played for them. After his stint with the Globetrotters, Mingming went on to compete for Fuerza Regia in the Mexican League and Hamamatsu Phoenix in the BJ League of Japan. He returned to China in 2009 and joined the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Mingming helped the Ducks reach the 2012 CBA Finals, and they won the CBA Finals title in 2014 and 2015.
Mingming's height has brought him recognition beyond his basketball career. On August 4, 2013, he married Xu Yan, and together, they are recognised by Guinness World Records as the tallest living married couple, with a combined height of 13 feet 10.72 inches (423.47 cm).
Mingming is not the only tall Chinese basketball player to gain recognition. Yao Ming, who played for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets in the NBA, stood at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 metres) tall. Yi, dubbed "Little Yao Ming", is 2.3 metres tall and was touted as a future NBA star when he was only 16 years old. Sun Yue, another tall Chinese basketball player, stands at 2.06 metres and has a multi-year contract with the Lakers.
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Sun Yue: 2.06-metre-tall point guard for the Lakers
Sun Yue, a 2.06-metre-tall point guard, has a multi-year contract with the Lakers. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (10th pick, 40th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft. Sun is a Chinese former professional basketball player. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, making him one of two players born in China to win an NBA championship. The other is Mongolian-Chinese centre Mengke Bateer, who won the 2003 NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs.
Sun signed his first professional contract with the Chinese Basketball Association side Beijing Olympians in 2002 at the age of 17. In 2004, Sun was selected to join the Chinese national under-20 team, but Beijing refused to release him to play, so the team was banned from the Chinese Basketball Association. After touring Taiwan, the team moved to the American Basketball Association. In his first season in the ABA, he scored 9.5 points per game and seven rebounds per game with 6.7 assists per game.
Sun stayed with the Beijing Olympians for another year before signing with Los Angeles in August 2008. Soon after his arrival in the United States, Sun suffered from mononucleosis and had to be hospitalised. He made his debut on 7 December 2008 against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring four points in five minutes of play.
Sun played in a total of ten regular-season games and averaged 2.8 minutes and 0.6 points per game. He was then assigned to the Lakers' D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he played six games, averaging 0.7 points and 0.2 assists per game. Sun then suffered a left ankle sprain during practice with the D-Fenders and missed the remaining D-League games. He eventually recovered and travelled with the Lakers as a member of their playoff roster, but he was not activated. Since he was a member of the team when the Lakers ultimately won their championship, he did receive a ring and was crowned an NBA champion.
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Sun Mingming's wife: the tallest married couple at 13 ft 10 inches
Sun Mingming and his wife Xu Yan are the tallest married couple in the world, with a combined height of 423.47 cm (13 ft and 10.72 inches). Mingming, a basketball player, is 7 ft 8.98 in (236.17 cm) tall, while Yan, a professional handball player, is 6 ft 1.74 in (187.3 cm) tall. The couple met at the National Games of China in 2009 and were married in Beijing in 2013. They are natives of Heilongjiang, China, and were recognised by the Guinness World Records in 2016.
Sun Mingming is one of the tallest basketball players in Asia. Another well-known tall Asian basketball player is Yao Ming, who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his final season, Yao was the tallest active player in the NBA, at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m). Yao was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, becoming the first Chinese national to receive this honour.
Yi, dubbed "Little Yao Ming", is another extremely tall Chinese basketball player, standing at 2.3 meters. Yi was almost seven feet tall at the age of 16 and was touted as a future NBA star. Sun Yue, a 2.06-meter-tall point guard, is another tall Asian basketball player who has a multi-year contract with the Lakers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yao Ming was 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall. He was the tallest player in the NBA during his final season.
Yes, his parents Yao Zhiyuan and Fengdi Fang were the tallest couple in China when he was born. Yao Zhiyuan was 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall, and Fengdi Fang was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.
Yes, Yi from Shenzhen is 2.3 metres tall. Sun Mingming is tall enough to be recognised by the Guinness World Records as part of the tallest living married couple, although his exact height is not available. Sun Yue is 2.06 metres tall.
Yes, Yao Ming's parents were both shorter than 2 metres tall. His father was 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall, and his mother was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.
