All you need to know about Fang Fengdi, Yao Ming's mother

Fang Fengdi is the mother of former professional basketball player Yao Ming. She is a Chinese woman who became famous following her son's success in the National Basketball Association. Fengdi played a crucial role in her son's upbringing. This article has more about her.

Yao Ming was among the first Chinese athletes to star in the NBA. He spent eight seasons at Houston Rockets between 2002-2011. He is the only child of Fang Fengdi and Yao Zhiyuan. His parents played basketball during their careers. Discover more details about his mother's age, background, and achievements.

Fang Fengdi's profile

Fang Fengdi's age

Yao Ming's mother was born in 1949 in China. She is a former professional basketball player. Fang Fengdi's passion for the sport began while in school. She was 15 years old in her third year of junior school.

Who is Fang Fengdi's spouse?

Fang married Yao Zhiyuan, a former Chinese professional basketball player, before retiring due to minor injuries. Zhiyuan played for the Shanghai men's basketball team.

Were Yao Ming's parents forced to marry?

Sources reveal that the government encouraged the two to marry to produce a dominant athlete. Basketball is among the most popular sports in China. Their union gave birth to Yao Ming, who turned up to become one of the best Chinese basketball players in history. Fengdi and Zhiyuan received special treatment from the government after their son's birth. They often provided an extra stipend to the family to purchase food for Ming.

How tall is Fang Fengdi?

Fang Fengdi's height is 1.91 m, while her husband stands at 2 m (6 feet 7 inches) tall. Fang Fengdi's height in feet is 6 feet and 3 inches. They are among the tallest couples in China.

Fang Fengdi's basketball career

Yao Ming's mother started practising basketball in junior high school. She joined the Shanghai youth team after graduation. Fengdi later got selected as a centre for the Chinese national team in 1970. She became the women's basketball team captain in 1976, guiding her nation to several victories, including beating Japan at the Asian Championships in Hong Kong.

The national team coach preferred Fang because of her tall stature. Her ability to jump and win aerial balls was crucial to the team. She participated in numerous tournaments, including the Asian Championships, the World Championships, and the Los Angeles Olympics. Her career suffered a setback because of injuries. She retired in 1979.

What was Yao Ming known for?

The legendary basketball star is known for being the most successful Chinese player in the NBA. Yao Ming spent eight seasons playing for the Houston Rockets and made eight All-Star rosters, averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds. He was named to the All-NBA team five times.

Ming joined the Rockets in 2002 after helping the Shanghai Sharks to win the Chinese Basketball Association championship. He also represented the Chinese national team in three Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008). He is a three-time gold medalist at FIBA Asia Cup and a three-time MVP winner at the FIBA Asia Championships.

How old is Yao Ming?

Ming was born on 12 September 1980 in Shanghai, China. He is 42 years old (as of July 2023). Yao is the only child in his family. Yao Ming's parents and the Chinese government cared for him while he was growing up. The former NBA star liked reading military history books during his youth.

Yao signed a contract with the Shanghai Sharks youth team in ninth grade before joining the senior team. He spent five years with the Sharks, then moved to the NBA. Fengdi's son retired in July 2011 following injuries that affected his fitness. He got a degree in Economics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2018.

Yao Ming's height

The Chinese basketball legend is 2.29 m (7 feet 6 inches) tall and weighs 141 Kg (310 lbs). Yao was the tallest active player in the NBA during his final season in the league. He became taller than his parents when he was in high school. The NBA legend weighed 5 kg (11 pounds) at birth, twice as much as the average Chinese newborn.

Fang Fengdi's net worth

Fengdi's net worth details remain unknown. Her son, Ming, earned a net worth of $160 million from his basketball career, brand endorsements and investments. Yao topped the Forbes list of the wealthiest Chinese entertainers in 2008, with an estimated income of 388 million yuan ($56.81 million).

The eight-time NBA All-Star bought his former club, the Shanghai Sharks, in July 2009 to save the team from financial troubles. He has served as the Global Ambassador of the Special Olympics and also a member of the International Board of Directors.

Yao is currently the president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He was elected in February 2017 and re-elected in December 2022. Ming partnered with the African Wildlife Foundation and WildAid as an ambassador for their "Say No" campaign, dedicated to conserving elephants and rhinoceros.

Yao Ming's family

The former Houston Rockets star married Chinese female basketball player Ye Li. The two started dating when they were teenagers. Ye Li and Yao tied the knot in August 2007. They have a daughter, Yao Qinlei, born on 21 May 2010, in a hospital in Houston, Texas.

Is there Fang Fengdi's Instagram?

Ming's mother does not have a social media account. The NBA star has verified accounts on Instagram and Facebook, with over 2 million followers. Yao Ming's Instagram has 506k followers as of July 2023, while on Facebook, he has 1.5 million followers. His Twitter account has 190.6k followers.

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Yao Ming, Fang Fengdi, and Yao Zhiyuan have left a legacy in basketball. Their incredible heights made them shine in the sport and make history. The family has inspired many Chinese aspiring to succeed in basketball.

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Full name	Fang Fengdi
Date of birth	1949
Age	74 (as of July 2023)
Place of birth	China
Nationality	Chinese
Height	1.91 m (6'3")
Profession	Former basketball player
Husband	Yao Zhiyuan
Son	Yao Ming
Daughter-in-law	Ye Li
Granddaughter	Yao Qinlei