40年40人 | 姚明：续写篮球传奇

提到中国篮球，姚明无疑是出现频率最高的名字，无论是运动员时期还是退役转型之后——从“小巨人”到“移动长城”；从“姚老板”到“姚主席”，尽管称谓和身份在不断变化，但姚明那颗热爱篮球的心却始终如一。

Yao Ming is probably the most frequently mentioned name when talking about Chinese basketball. From being "The Little Giant" to "The Big Boss," Yao's love for basketball has remained unchanged since day one.

1980年9月，姚明出生于上海的篮球世家。18岁入选中国男篮国家队、22岁以状元秀身份登陆美职篮、29岁收购篮球俱乐部，无论是运动员生涯还是经商生涯，姚明都取得了不俗的成绩。

Born to a basketball family in Shanghai in 1980, Yao started his career at the age of 18 when he was selected for to the men's national basketball team. He was the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. In 2009, Yao bought the Shanghai Sharks, the CBA club. Yao has achieved great success both as a sportsman and as an entrepreneur.  

2011年7月20日，姚明在上海正式宣布退役。2016年，他与沙奎尔•奥尼尔和艾伦•艾弗森一同入选美国篮球名人堂，成为亚洲首位获得这一殊荣的篮球运动员。一年后，在中国篮球协会第九届全国代表大会上，37岁的姚明全票当选新一届中国篮协主席。这是中国篮协自1956年成立以来，第一次由社会人士担任主席。

On July 20, 2011, Yao announced his retirement in his hometown Shanghai. In 2016, he was selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside other NBA All-Stars Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson. A year later, Yao was unanimously elected as the president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) at the age of 37. He became the first-ever non-governmental person to take the position at the ninth national congress of the association, which was founded in 1956.

“很多事儿，它是需要用很长时间，甚至一辈子时间去做的。” 说起公益活动，姚明如是说。2018年，始于汶川地震的姚基金步入第十个年头。成立之初，姚基金的捐助方向是帮助灾区进行学校重建，后来开始实施“姚基金希望小学篮球季”公益项目，已有超过92万人次的贫困地区青少年从项目中受益。

"Many things take a long time or even a lifetime to accomplish," Yao said about public service activities. The Yao Ming Foundation, launched after the Wenchuan earthquake, turned ten in 2018. At first, the Yao Ming Foundation helped with the reconstruction of schools in the disaster-hit area. Later on, it rolled out the "Yao Ming Foundation Hope Primary School Basketball Season," enrolling more than 920,000 Chinese students in underdeveloped areas.

“篮球在孩子的成长中可以扮演很重要的角色，而并不是像大家传统理解认为的，就是要发现篮球人才，”姚明说，“我们相信体育运动，以篮球作为一个典范，去促进人的成长，（培养）面对挫折的精神、团队意识和领导力。”

"Basketball can play an important role in the growth of children. Unlike the traditional thought of simply recruiting talented players," Yao noted, adding that "We believe in sports and take basketball as an ideal way to promote people's development, such as the development of a strong will when facing obstacles, teamwork, and leadership."

“篮球运动是在学院里面被发明的，它就是以育人为第一目的的，只要喜欢就好，关键是喜欢。”姚明说。

"Basketball was invented in the academy, which was originally focused on educating people. Interest is the key," he added.