His time on the basketball court became known as the 'Ming Dynasty', but the dynasty of Yao Ming has come to an end, with the Chinese superstar announcing his retirement.
The 'smiling giant' gave basketball a foothold in the world's most populous market and he became a source of national pride and inspiration.
With his career over, the focus has turned to who will replace him, and what will it mean to the future of basketball in China.
Kate ArnottLast Updated: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:23:00 +1000
At seven-foot-and-six-inches tall, Yao Ming is a towering presence in every way.
In 2002, he was drafted to the North American National Basketball Association as the number one pick - a first for an overseas player.
But now, at the age of 30, his days on the court are over.
Plagued by foot injuries, Yao Ming has retired after nearly nine years with the Houston Rockets and even longer with China's national team.
"Today it comes, finally. But my life goes on and I am still Yao Ming," he said.
"A lot of people dream to have the same career I have. I just accept it and you have to appreciate what you have and move on."
It was news his millions of fans were expecting but didn't want to hear.
"We wanted to see him win the NBA championship," said one fan, student He Wen. "But now he has quit, so it's really frustrating."
Yao lived and breathed basketball before the age of 10, when he became part of China's state-run sports system.
"I remember seeing him play in Sydney when he was 16 years old and the first thing that comes to your mind is you walk out and you see a very, very big man," said Australian coach and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown.
"And then you see his mobility and then you see him shoot 80 per cent from the free throw line and you recognise that he's a game changer. He's an international superstar."
Yao remained fiercely patriotic during his career; he carried the Chinese flag in the Olympic Games and donated millions of dollars to the Sichuan earthquake recovery effort.
"He's one of the greatest people, not only in basketball, but in this world," his former coach at the Houston Rockets, Jeff Van Gundy, said.
"He's that good a guy - I grew to respect him so much."
Much has been said about whether his patriotism and the demands of China's national team on top of a punishing NBA schedule prematurely ended his career.
But those involved in the game - among them former NBA centre Luc Longley - believe Yao's size alone meant he wasn't going to last forever.
"Just the engineering can let you down. That's what happened to me, that's what happened with Yao," he said.
"It's sad to see anyone retire prematurely and I can definitely empathise with that."
Brett Brown agrees.
"That gruelling schedule and you look at the wear and tear of a seven-foot-six man at 300-and-somewhat pounds and it takes its toll," he said.
Even though his career was cut short, Yao Ming is credited with doing more for China's image overseas than anyone else in his country.
"Yao has been without question a transformational player for our league and a source of enormous pride to the people of china," NBA Commissioner David Stern said.
LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant recently visited China and says he saw that inspiration first-hand.
"In terms of opening up doors for Chinese basketball players to come to the NBA, or for the youth here in China to believe that it's possible to achieve the dream of being an NBA player, all that started from Yao," he said.
An estimated 300 million people now play the sport in the China, and there's no denying that Yao had a lot to do with that.
But he was also responsible for a growing interest in basketball among Asian communities across the world.
Boon Tan from the Australian Chinese Basketball Association says team numbers doubled while Yao was playing.
"Even in our small little sample it's quite evident that he has made an impact," he said.
"He has been a popular figure that a lot of young Asians and Chinese look up to and want to aspire to copy and to be able to follow in his footsteps in the future."
And he says Yao will remain an inspiration off the court.
"Certainly with Yao going there will be a downturn in interest initially, but I think that whether he's on the court or off the court he will still be a drawcard in terms of basketball and promoting the game," he said.
China is the largest market for the NBA outside the United States - and accounts for about half the Association's international revenue.
But Yao's retirement has led to concerns all that might soon be at risk.
"I know that's a concern for them," says Bill Tomlinson, assistant coach with the Chinese women's basketball team, "but you know basketball is on fire in China right now.
"The NBA is making every effort to keep its brand and the game moving in the right direction in China."
On China's basketball courts, attention has shifted to Yao's successor.
Yi Jianlian from the Washington Wizards is one name being mentioned - but he hasn't made much of an impact to date.
To produce more stars, experts say China needs to shake-up its coaching styles and development programs.
"Once they start getting their philosophical direction on track - because you have so many styles to choose from and they have the population to choose from - I do think you're going to see more people," NBA assistant coach Brett Brown said.
"And I don't think that's too far away from happening."
Yao Ming says intends to do what he can to continue to promote basketball in China.
He will become increasingly involved with the Shanghai Sharks - a team he used to play for and which he now owns.
And he says he wants to give back to the sport to which he says he owes everything.
"I met my wife, set up a family with her and found my life-long happiness because of basketball," he said.
"All of these were brought along by basketball that I have loved so much, so I thank basketball."
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