Full transcript of Yao Ming's statement

姚明：大家好，各位领导，各位来宾，各位好，谢谢大家今天的光临。

Hello everyone, leaders, guests, and friends from news media, good afternoon, and thanks for coming.

今天对我来说是重要的日子，无论对我以及以往的篮球职业生涯，还是未来个人发展，都具有特殊的意义。

Today is an important day for me. For myself, my basketball career and the personal growth in the future, it has a particular meaning.

去年年底，我的左脚第三次应力性骨折，我不得不离开赛场，半年多以来和很多关心的朋友一样，我也是在漫长的期待中渡过，在那段时间内心十分纠结，反复思考，为此今天宣布一个个人的决定，作为篮球运动员，我将结束自己的运动生涯，正式退役。

At the end of last year I broke my left foot for a third time. I had to leave the basketball court, and spent the last half of the year waiting, just as many of those who care about me. During that period, I struggled a lot in my heart and thought a lot. Now I am going to announce a personal decision: I am going to end my career as a basketball player and officially retire.

此时此刻，回顾过去，展望未来，我的内心充满感激。

Looking back on the past and right into the future, I am deeply grateful.

我首先要感谢的是篮球这项伟大的运动，为无数人带来了快乐，包括我自己。我4岁的时候有了第一个篮球，9岁进入上海市体校，14岁进入上海训练队，16岁背上我父亲当年的号码，代表上海队比赛。篮球使我延续家庭的传承，每当我看到父母欣慰的眼神，都感到无比自豪。我也非常荣幸有幸能够和上海大鲨鱼的队友为上海赢得2002年CBA冠军，和我们身后这座城市联系在一起。同一年在进入NBA之后，篮球引领我进入更宽广的舞台，使我尽情展现自己。我更要感谢能有机会为中国国家队奋战十年，那是无数青年人的梦想，同时因为篮球，与心爱人的结缘，建立美满的家庭，获得一生的幸福。所有这些都是无比热爱的篮球带给我的，我要感谢篮球。

First I'd like to thank basketball. This great sport has brought joy to so many people, including me. I had my first basketball when I was four. I entered the Sports School of Xuhui District of Shanghai when I was nine and entered the Shanghai Basketball Youth Team at 14. At 16, I began playing for Shanghai Basketball Team, wearing my father's number.

I inherited my family's tradition by playing basketball. I feel so proud every time I look into the eyes of my parents, who are proud of me.