Yao Ming was born on September 12, 1980 in Shanghai China.  He started playing basketball when he was 9 years old.  He made the Chinese youth team at the age of 14.  Although his biggest accomplishment didn't come until he was 18 years old and he was asked to play for the Chinese national team.  While playing national ball he was still the star of the Asian Basketball Confederation.  He played for the Shanghai Sharks from 1997-2002.  Along with that he played in the ABA in 2000 for the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs.  He was then drafted number one overall in the 2002 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets.  He then become an international phenom known worldwide.