Yao Ming retires
 

Pretty sad, could have been one of the great ones.

https://twitter.com/#%21/WojYahooNBA...83420307841025

The most likeable NBA player of the past 20 years.

I figured he would. Just way too injury prone.

Wasn't that the Chinese chick with the green eyes in Big Trouble In Little China?

Seriously, name one NBA player more likeable than Yao Ming from the past twenty years.

Hit 83 percent of his free throws. Pretty awesome for a 7-6 guy.

Mugsy Bogues?

I'm sure basically playing nonstop (for the national team) didn't help his longevity.

Veeeeeeeeeery likeable guy. Good call.

I think Yao was more well-liked, however. Guy is a global freaking figure, and only really the people who knew the NBA knew Mugsy.

LeBron

Goran Dragic

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9G2QTSf9TIo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dude...he was in SPACE JAM!!!

Sasha Vujacic

David Robinson was a likeable dude.

lolz

Dirk's pretty likable.

Greatest euro ever.

I think Dikembe Mutumbo wins most likeable guy actually.

Magic Johnson will forever be the gold standard of likeable players, but David Robinson is the last guy I can think of that was as phenomenally likeable as Ming. It's been how long for him? 20 years?

Or am I having a senior moment.

20-some points in a 4th quarter playoff game from a nobody?

He's the perfect American story. Why do you think sports fans still give a shit about David Tyree? We love these kinds of players.

Ohhhhhhhh why didn't I think of that.

Good call.

Likable, talented and able to lead his team to championships.

Another great call.

I don't think he has the global reach of Robinson or Ming, and is nowhere in Magic's arena. But such a great guy.

And then he got AIDS.

Life sucks.

Agreed.

FYP

...and he talks like a frog, and that's always pretty cool.

Now he's likeable.

When he was a playoff flame-out nobody gave a shit enough about him to like him

Still beloved.

Charles Barkley went into house arrest (or something) for soliciting prostitution. Right now I'd say he's either a well-liked, global basketball figure or at least passionately liked here in the States.

Nobody does it alone SNR...nobody does it alone.

By the way, I'm pairing "likeable" with "most well liked." I'm saying since David Robinson, Yao's on top when you combine both of those concepts.

If it was just most well liked, Jordan and Magic would be king. Everybody on the planet knew/knows them and loves them.

Of the two, I'd say Magic's incredibly likeable, too. There was a demand for him to host a freaking talk show.

Jordan's prickly as hell, though. The guy was a bit of an asshole and didn't give a shit, he was totally committed to winning.

Magic Johnson was the inspiration behind Shrek as well

Nope

Damn. It was Miao Yin.

That is the second reference to that movie I've seen in the past two days.

Steve Nash?

Steve Nash was so Anti war it grossed people out

Kevin Garnett - The guy is a class act.

LMAO

Vlade Divac