Yao Ming Since Retirement

SI Staff | Aug 14, 2012

Yao Ming Since Retirement /

Yao Ming Since Retirement

Since retiring in July 2011, Yao Ming has been a busy man. He's enrolled at university, joined the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and on occasion, sat courtside to cheer on his Rockets. He has also found a new passion, wildlife conservation, and has become a global ambassador for WildAid, one of the leading organizations working to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products. As Yao enjoys a two-week tour of Africa (follow his adventures at yaomingblog.com), SI looks at life after retirement for one of basketball's true global stars.

Yao and British tycoon Richard Branson attend a press conference for a campaign against eating shark fins in Shanghai. Yao and Branson made an appeal Thursday in Shanghai against the consumption of shark fins to a group of 30 of China's richest and most influential business people.

Yao Ming poses with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Zhang Ze before their men's singles match at the China Open in Beijing.

Yao walks on the first Airbus A380 delivered to China Southern Airlines at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Happily married Yao Ming poses with eight couples of newlyweds during a collective wedding in Beijing.

Yao shows off his defense during a youth charity activity in Chongqing, China

Yao speaks at a promotional event for cookie brand Oreo in Shanghai.

Yao listens to his teacher on the first day as a new student of the Antai College of Economics & Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He is mostly taking one-on-one lectures to avoid attention while on campus.

Yao and his wife Ye Li hold pandas during a ceremony for the release of six pandas in southwestern China's Sichuan province.

Yao stands next to a young student from Shanghai School for the Blind at a charity TV gala in Shanghai.

Yao dons a chef's outfit for the Spring Festival gala in Shanghai

In Janaury. Yao became the youngest of the 142-member of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Shanghai. The committee

Yao looks at a bear at Animal Asia's moon bear sanctuary in Chengdu, China.

Yao greets former teammate (and current Laker) Metta World Peace before a Rockets-Lakers game.

Yao take in a Mavs-Rockets game with his wife and daughter.

Yao exits the BFA Hotel during the Boao Forum for Asia, a non-profit organization that hosts forums for leaders from government, business and academia to share views on pressing issues in the region.

ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Yao is the center of attention as he arrives at China Youth University for Political Sciences to attend a press conference for the Yao Foundation Hope Primary School Basketball Season.

Yao and British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton attend a charity event during the UKs GREAT campaign on a sightseeing boat in Shanghai.

Yao attends a signing ceremony for a partnership between a pro-environment and conservation group, RARE and Yao Foundation in Hong Kong.

Yao is joined by top director Feng Xiaogang and Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang during the press conference for Mission Hills 2012 World Celebrity Pro-Am in Shanghai.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and Yao Ming attend the opening ceremony for the First Citizens Games of Shanghai at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.

Yao poses with a group of Kenyan Police Reservists protecting Ol Pejeta, an animal sanctuary in East Africa.

Yao poses with Najin and Suni, two Northern White Rhinos living at Ol Pejeta.

Yao poses against with the KPR and their dog.

Yao meets some new friends while in Africa.

Yao drives out of the sanctuary after a day in the wild.

Published Aug 14, 2012

SI STAFF