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Jonathan White

The seven-time NBA winner Robert Horry has claimed that Yao Ming “would probably have been considered among the greatest” were it not for his career-ending injuries.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Horry joined The Road Trippin’ podcast and was full of praise for the Chinese superstar when conversation turned to Yao, remarking that people forget how big he was and comparing him to former teammate Shaquille O’Neal.
“I remember when we first played them with Shaq and everybody knew how big Shaq is and we were like ‘Damn this m**********r bigger than Shaq.’”
Yao’s height was listed as 2.29 metres, with O’Neal’s 2.16m.

Horry spoke of the friendship he struck up with Yao, who spent eight seasons with the Houston Rockets from 2002, because of his connection to Houston.
Horry played for the Rockets from 1992 to 1996 where he won the first of his seven NBA championships.
On this day: ‘disaster waiting to happen’ Yao Ming goes first in NBA draft
“He was so big and he was such a nice guy. I got to know him well because you know the Rockets organisation and we’d have a conversation and he’s talking about basketball and he’s bringing up all these old players and I’m looking at him like, ‘Yo dude, I thought you didn’t speak English?’
“Like what the hell, how you know all these old players? He’s just going down the list and he come across a couple of players and I was like ‘who the f*** is that?’ I don’t even know who they are.”
“He was so knowledgeable of the history of basketball and I think that’s one of the things that never gets talked about, his IQ, because of his lower body wouldn’t have went out he’d probably be considered one of the greatest because he could play. He was very skilled, very smart.”

Co-host Channing Frye spoke of his own experience having to guard Yao when he was with the Portland Traiblazers – joking that the assignment came six months after he had asked for a trade.
“People don’t understand how big he was and how strong and the fact that he wasn’t just gonna bully you, he was just like I’m gonna shoot this turn around jumper. He was so skilled.
“He shot the technical fouls for that team, no matter who was on the court. That’s how good he was.”
‘New Yao Ming’ is 14-year-old girl standing 2.26m
Richard Jefferson, the other podcast regular along with NBA reporter Allie Clifton, had his own Yao story to add from a game with the Phoenix Suns.
“I remember Yao’s rookie year. Everybody’s seen that video of Boban [Marjanovic] holding the ball like this [above his head] and Anthony Davis couldn’t get it. Anthony Davis is 6-foot-11 with the longest arms. Boban’s just doing this making him look like a litle kid.”
Jefferson, who won a championship ring with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, said that Yao did a similar thing to Jason Collins back in the 2002-03 season.

“Yao Ming grabs the rebound and Jason Collins tries to get it and Yao Ming does this [waves his arm above his head] and Jason Collins is trying to like reach and get it and me and Jason Kidd running back on defence are like “God,” I don’t think I had ever seen that before.
“This was 12 years before Boban came into the league. We had never seen someone that much bigger, where they could take a 6 foot 10, 6 foot 11 guy and just do this and make them not reach and get the ball.”
Yao, who retired in 2011, is the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association.


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NBA (National Basketball Association)

NBA: Yao Ming ‘would have been among greatest’ without injuries, says ex-Lakers star Robert Horry

Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming of China (goes up to shoot past Los Angeles Lakers players Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol during a 2010 NBA game. Photo: Reuters

The NBA's tallest player China's Yao Ming (L) of the Houston Rockets at 7 foot 6 inches tall and the NBA's shortest player Earl Boykins of the Denver Nuggets at 5 foot 5 inches short cross paths during a brief break in the action in the first quarter in Denver December 26, 2003. REUTERS/Gary C. Caskey

Phoenix Suns Shaquille O'Neal (L) fouls Houston Rockets Yao Ming from China, in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Arizona, April 1, 2009. REUTERS/Rick Scuteri (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis leans on Houston Rockets center Yao Ming in the fourth period of NBA action en route to the Magic's 76-74 win over the Rockets in Houston November 8, 2005. REUTERS/Richard Carson

On this day: Yao Ming goes first in NBA draft – from ‘disaster waiting to happen’ to All-Star

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets blocks out David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs in a preseason NBA game on October 23, 2002. Photo: AFP

Los Angeles Clippers' Chinese center Wang Zhizhi (left) jostles for position for a rebound with Houston Rockets' Chinese center Yao Ming in the first quarter, in Los Angeles, CA, 24 November 2002. The Clippers won 90-89.

China's 7-foot-5-inch tall basketball player Yao Ming talks on his mobile phone with Houston Rockets coach RudyTomjanovich in Beijing after Yao was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the first pick in the 2002 draft, June 27, 2002. Yao became the first foreign-born player taken No. 1 in the NBA draft on Thursday. REUTERS/Andrew Wong

Former President George Bush, left, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin share a laugh about the Houston Rockets newest player Yao Ming from China during a dinner in Houston, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002. Jiang's visit to Houston is part of a four-day U.S. trip that will culminate in a Friday meeting with President Bush at his ranch in Crawford. (AP Photo/POOL, David J. Phillip)

Houston Rockets first round draft pick Yao Ming listens to questions during a news conference following his arrival to Houston Sunday, Oct. 20, 2002. (AP Photo/Brett Coomer)

Miami Heat's Shaquille O'Neal (32) and Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, look toward the stands before the start of their pre-season game Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Chinese fans of Houston Rockets' center Yao Ming cheer his home court debut Sunday Nov. 3, 2002 at a hotel in Shanghai. The game was broadcast live on Shanghai Television's sports channel and shown on a projection television. About 150 fans gathered for the event. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Christian Wood betters Yao Ming with Houston Rockets start

Houston Rockets centre Christian Wood shoots while defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. Photo: USA Today Sports

LeBron James told to join Andre Drummond in ‘Shanghai, China’ after Lakers free agent hints at next move

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers in February, 2021. Photo: AFP

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, left, shoots against Detroit Pistons' Andre Drummond in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 13, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 18: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons tries to drive to the basket past Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on December 18, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Toronto won the game 112-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Sport

China

Basketball


Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry praises Yao Ming’s basketball IQ on podcast along with Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson
Remembers fellow Los Angeles Lakers players remarking that Chinese NBA star was bigger than Shaquille O’Neal



Horry remembers fellow Los Angeles Lakers players remarking that the Chinese NBA star was bigger than Shaquille O’Neal on podcast along with Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson.


CBA (Chinese Basketball Association)

NBA: Yao Ming ‘would have been among greatest’ without injuries, says ex-Lakers star Robert Horry

Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry praises Yao Ming’s basketball IQ on podcast along with Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson Remembers fellow Los Angeles Lakers players remarking that Chinese NBA star was bigger than Shaquille O’Neal

Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry praises Yao Ming’s basketball IQ on podcast along with Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson

Remembers fellow Los Angeles Lakers players remarking that Chinese NBA star was bigger than Shaquille O’Neal