With Yao Ming set to complete his playing career with his induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, former Rockets teammate Steve Francis reflected on how it began.
Writing in the Players' Tribune, Francis recalled two trips he made prior to Yao's rookie season in 2002. In both cases, Francis wrote, former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich interrupted Francis' off-season -- first to fly to Houston to view tape of Yao in action and then to represent the Rockets at the NBA Draft lottery in Secaucus, N.J.
"I got a call from Rudy," Francis wrote.