How Yao Ming headlines an elite list of NBA legends, and he will be the last to join the unique club

How Yao Ming dominated the fan vote

During the entirety of Ming’s career, the All-Star rosters were determined by a fan vote. Not only is Houston one of the largest metro areas in the country, but China was the world’s most populous country from the start of such documentation up until 2023, and Ming was the most popular player.

In 2005 and 2006, Ming led all players in fan votes. In 2009, the league started to accept text and online votes as well as the traditional paper ballots, so Ming’s 2.6 million votes in 2005 were the most of anyone in the pre-internet voting between 1975 and 2009.

During Ming’s peak between 2003 and 2008, he averaged a stellar 19.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and certainly would have made the All-Star games on merit alone, especially since the Rockets were playoff staples during that time.

In his first season, he lost Rookie of the Year to Amar’e Stoudemire, although he was still voted in. In his final season, he played in only five games, although much like Magic Johnson, the fans made their voices heard.

Ming is likely the last player who will ever make the All-Star game in every season of his career.

Why Ming was the last of a dying breed

In the modern NBA, since 2017, the fan vote has been heavily reduced. Coaches select reserve players, and the fans only have a say in the starters. As a result, players who miss the first half with injury are rarely considered, and legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and even Victor Wembanyama have already missed at least one All-Star game in their careers.

Ming, who was often the only active Chinese player in the league during his career, had the benefit of millions (if not billions) of possible voters. During his rookie season, the NBA sent out ballots in Spanish and Chinese, as well as English, in an effort to grow the game.

While youngsters like Cooper Flagg might be able to become the rare rookie to make an All-Star game, he will have to stay healthy for his entire career and retire before he becomes a second or third-rate player, which seems unrealistic. Had Ming played a full career, he might have seen his popularity decrease or have been hurt by the vote changes in 2017.

It took perfect circumstances for Ming to make eight All-Star games, as well as the backing of the largest country in the world. Modern stars don’t have the same luxuries, and the list of career All-Star players is expected to stay at only five.