Yao Ming is one of the biggest stars in basketball–literally. At seven feet, six-inches, Yao’s impressive performance for the NBA’s Houston Rockets earned him the Rookie of the Year Award in 2002-2003, and put him on the covers of Sports Illustrated and other magazines, as well as in television commercials for Visa and Gatorade. His gentle nature off the court doesn’t impede his domination on the court.