Yao Ming

Yao Ming was initially pressured to enter the NBA draft in 1999 by Li Yaomin, the deputy general manager of the Shanghai Sharks. Li also pressured Yao into signing a contract with Evergreen Sports Inc., which stated that Yao would have to give Evergreen 33% of his earnings. However, Yao quickly terminated the contract after it was determined invalid. Despite the pressure of entering the draft, becoming an NBA player had always been Yao's dream. When Yao Ming decided to enter the 2002 NBA draft, a team of advisors was formed that was collectively dubbed “Team Yao”. The team consisted of Yao’s negotiator, Erik Zhang, his NBA agent, Bill Duffy, his Chinese agent, Lu Hao, a professor at the University of Chicago, John Huizinga, and Bill Sanders, the vice president for marketing at BDA Sports Management, the company that Duffy started. After Yao's intentions were announced, scouting reports began raving about his shot-blocking, passing, and agility. Some even said that his upside was so tremendous that being selected first overall was virtually guaranteed. Another draft profile called him "the best and most dominant player in China." However, teams were concerned about Yao's NBA eligibility: would the Chinese Basketball Association let Yao play in the United States, or keep him for lesser-known tournaments in China? One week prior to the draft, the Shanghai Sharks, Yao's former team, worked out a deal with the NBA, stating that they would yet Yao play in the U.S. as long as he was drafted by a team that could contend in 2-3 years. On draft night, the Rockets picked Yao, who became the first player without any American basketball experience to be selected first overall.