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Yao Ming's height is listed at 7'6, making him the tallest player to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The eight-time All-Star, however, is not the tallest professional basketball player from China. That title belongs to 7'9 Sun Mingming. Take a look at how the two big men compare to one another.
Yao Ming's height in comparison to Sun Mingming
Yao Ming's height was listed at 7'6, however, Sun Mingming, listed at 7'9, towered over Ming. While Yao has established himself as the greatest player to emerge from China, Mingming never made the NBA.
Unlike Yao Ming, Sun didn't begin playing basketball until he was 15 years old, as his 7'0 frame pushed him towards the sport. Although he grew to love the game, his career was derailed in 2005 as a potentially life-threatening tumor was discovered on his pituitary gland.
His condition, known medically as Acromegaly, led to Mingming's height. The condition allowed his body to release high levels of growth hormones, while producing low levels of testosterone, impacting his ability to build strength and athleticism.
Although Mingming grew up poor and didn't have the money needed for the six-figure surgery, his agent was able to set up a fundraiser that allowed him to have the operation. Following the operation, Mingming went on to play college basketball at Ventura College, a community college in Ventura, California.
While he never achieved his goal of playing in the NBA, he did turn professional after a year at Ventura College. After spending a few seasons playing for minor league teams in the United States, Mingming returned to China to play for the Beijing Ducks, winning two championships alongside former NBA star Stephon Marbury.
Despite not having the same success as Yao Ming, who had a Hall of Fame career with the Houston Rockets, Sun Mingming was able to overcome adversity and carve out a successful career. Additionally, his incredible height allowed him to receive a complimentary role in Rush Hour 3.
Check out Sun Mingming's incredible height below:
How Yao Ming's height compares to other basketball players from China
While Yao Ming's height is listed as 7'6 and Sun Mingming's height is listed as 7'9, they are hardly the only Chinese big men to emerge as basketball players. Zhou Qi, who was listed as 7'1, spent 19 games with the Houston Rockets.
Wang Zhizhi was the first Chinese player to make the NBA. Zhizhi, who played 136 games across five seasons with three different franchises, was listed as 7'1. Outside of Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian entered the NBA with the most hype of any Chinese player. Jianlian, who was drafted sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2007 NBA Draft, was listed as 7'0. He played 272 games across five seasons with four franchises before returning to China.
Watch Yao Ming's highlights below:
Guess the Lakers players!
