Yao Ming to Enter Hall of Fame Next Year?

The thing about the Hall of Fame is that you don’t necessarily need to have had a stellar career. Due to injuries, Yao Ming didn’t. But what he did for the globalization of the game may be recongnized…

Retired Houston Rockets center Yao Ming could enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as early as next year — not as a player, but as a contributor to the game.

John Doleva, the president and CEO of the Hall, said Tuesday that Yao has been nominated by a member of the Chinese media and his credentials will be considered by an international panel. As a contributor, Yao would bypass the usual five-year waiting period for retired players.

Read more about Yao and the Hall via AP on ESPN.com.