Translation of the article content into English:
Peak Yao Ming was undoubtedly one of the best centers in the NBA at the time, with his 2.26-meter height and delicate skills under the basket, allowing him to dominate the paint, even against top centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. In 2006, after the expiration of his rookie contract, Yao Ming received recruitment from multiple teams who were eager to acquire this star player with great interior dominance, including superstars like Kobe Bryant. So, let's take a look at what offers each team made to Yao Ming at that time.
As the number one pick in the 2002 draft, Yao Ming's performance in his rookie season could only be described as average, averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of less than 50%, which was the key reason he did not win the Rookie of the Year award. However, after realizing the lack of strength and physicality, Yao dedicated a lot of time to gym training, quickly improving his strength level, and his sophomore season stats rose to an average of 17+9 points and rebounds, earning him All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selections.
In the following two seasons, Yao Ming made significant progress each year, and in his fourth year, he put up impressive numbers of 22.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game with a 51.9% shooting percentage, earning him a spot in the All-NBA Second Team and as an All-Star starter. At 25 years old, Yao Ming was already one of the top centers in the league, reaching his peak both physically and mentally.
By the 2005-06 season, Yao Ming was still in his rookie contract phase, but several teams in the league had already set their sights on him, with the Lakers being the most interested. At the peak of his career, Kobe Bryant was putting up his best performances, averaging 35.6 points per game, scoring 81 points in a single game, and 62 points in three quarters, setting a series of historic records. However, due to the weaker overall strength of the team, the Lakers' record was struggling to break through.
In order to find a partner for Kobe, the Lakers set their sights on Yao Ming, hoping to form a new "OK" duo. To show sincerity, "Coach Zen" Phil Jackson even personally participated in the recruitment process. However, surprisingly, Yao Ming didn't even consider the opportunity to team up with the peak Kobe. This decision by Yao left the Lakers management, Coach Zen, and Kobe very puzzled.
There were three main reasons why Yao Ming rejected the Lakers. First, as an Easterner, Yao highly valued loyalty. The Rockets had trusted and given him opportunities since he entered the NBA, allowing him to grow rapidly in the league. Therefore, he only wanted to continue playing for the Rockets to repay the team's kindness. Second, Yao regarded Houston as his second hometown and had deep feelings for the city and the team. Third, Yao had established a deep friendship with Tracy McGrady and also believed that McGrady was no worse than Kobe.
In fact, before the expiration of Yao Ming's rookie contract, the Rockets had already discussed a renewal agreement with him, and they reached a top-tier contract worth $75 million over 5 years, showing great sincerity. Although the Lakers had shown interest in Yao, it was only in the private recruitment stage, and Yao had already completed his renewal before any formal offer was made.