Sport is the best means of communication between people from different religions and countries.
Friendship first, competition second.
I don't really have anything to say. Basketball is not a game that you can play with your mouth. It needs action to prove yourself.
Sports teach you how to be quick. Injuries teach you how to slow down.
No matter whether you are new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another.
Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.
I'm just one of the 1.3 billion Chinese.
I think I'll stick to what I'm used to, my principles, and that is team Number 1 and individual Number 2.
I understand basketball is not my entire life. It's only a part of my life. And there are a lot of other things that interest me a great deal ... other goals to seek, and this is how I have balance in life.
A good leader must be fair.
Everybody is improving but I am improving slowly, which seemingly widens our distance.
Every sound in the gym is so fantastic. The screams of the fans, the whistle of the ref, the teammates calling to each other, the sounds of the ball touching the wooden floor, the sneakers touching the floor, and the sounds of the fight, the muscle and the sweat. Oh, and the last one-when the ball goes through the net. Don't laugh at my sensitivity and romanticism - those sounds really attract me.
When I was young, we were taught not to dunk. We were taght not to stand out from the rest of the team. It's different now.
Basketball, in America, is like a culture. It is like a foreigner learning a new language. It is difficult to learn foreign languages and it will also be difficult for me to learn the culture for basketball here.
It will take time to adapt, but I think I can handle it.
Fortune cookies are a good idea. If the message is positive, it can make your day a little better.
I think I am upsetting the coach.
To me, first and foremost, basketball is a fun sport. It is a hobby, an interest. And second, it is a profession. I feel that I am very fortunate that I can find a professional job that I really, really love.
My American strength coach said he liked me better before I could speak English.
All of the Chinese people, the Asian people say, "Oh Yao Ming, you are all the Chinese, all of Asia's hopes." That's a lot of pressure. I'm just a basketball player.
Endangered species are our friends.
I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a lot of demands.
Others are improving very fast, and I'm not improving as fast, and that bothers me.
The NBA is a big family, and I think of all these rookies as my brothers. I still believe I am blue collar among the All-Stars.
It's always nice to start the season with a win.
