Yao Ming, one of the seminal figures in modern basketball history, joins Adrian Wojnarowski for a fascinating interview on The Vertical Podcast with Woj.

Yao’s agent, Bill Duffy, joins the conversation to share context on Yao’s complicated and historic journey into the NBA and global stardom.

On Friday afternoon, when Yao was named one of the finalists for the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, Yao reflected on his more than nine-year career in the NBA with the Houston Rockets that included several All-Star appearances and ultimately several injuries that cut his career short.

Yao discusses the toll that playing for the Chinese national team took on his body, the mental anguish of fighting to return from his injuries and what it was like to compete against Shaquille O’Neal.

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