Despite a relatively short playing career, retired star Yao Ming has been elected a basketball hall of famer for his role in helping to spread the NBA's popularity to China.

Although ending his injury-plagued NBA career without a championship ring, Yao's towering contribution to promoting basketball globally has helped him to land the biggest individual honor in the game.

He has been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame together with other NBA legends including Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.