Today in Sports History: June 26

Yao Ming made basketball history in 2002 when he was selected as the Houston Rockets’ first pick. He was the first player top pick who had not played high school or college basketball in the U.S. Ming came to the U.S. with expensive basketball experience with the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association. In the NBA, he was named Rookie of the Year in 2003, an eight-time All-Star, and his no. 11 jersey was retired by the Rockets.