姚明被正式提名爲年NBA名人堂候選

Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial BAsketball Hall of Fame, in a move that could make him the first Chinese player to receive the honor.

原休斯頓火箭隊中鋒姚明正式獲得了奈史密斯籃球名人堂提名資格，此舉將會使他成爲獲此殊榮的中國第一人。

The Rockets, with which Yao spent nine years from 2002 to 2011, filed the nomination after The Hall of Fame recently reduced the eligibility requirement from five seasons after retirement to four, according to FOX 26 Sports.

據美國FOX26報道，名人堂最近更改了提名規則，即球員退役的年限要求從5年降低爲4年。姚明於2002年至2011年在火箭隊效力。而在2011年退役的姚明今年正好符合這一規則。火箭隊方面也在規則更改後第一時間提名姚明入選名人堂。

The rule change opens door to Yao, as well as other NBA legends, notably Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson, all of whom could be inducted in 2016.

規則的改變爲姚明打開了大門，其它的NBA傳奇人物，特別是奧尼爾、艾弗森等人也同時獲得了此資格。

Yao said he was "pretty excited and nervous" about the nomination in a telephone interview with a sports media outlet.

姚明在接受FOX26關於被提名的電話採訪時表示，“自己非常興奮，也很緊張。”

Since drafted by the Rockets in 2002, the 7'6" man went on to become the best recognized Chinese face in the league as an eight-time All Star. After injuries hurt his form, the veteran was forced to call an end to his sporting career in July, 2011.

自從2002年被火箭隊選中，在這之後的時間裏，這個7尺6寸的巨人逐漸成長，前後共八次入選NBA全明星，併成爲了聯盟裏最優秀的中國球員。在飽受傷病的折磨之後，2011年7月這位經驗豐富的球員被迫退役，結束了自己的運動生涯。

But retirement didn't remove the star from the spotlight, though. Yao, who continued to be China's global sports brand, remained in news off the court as a wildlife conservation advocate.

然而，退役並沒有讓姚明淡出聚光燈下，他一直是中國國際性運動的一張名片，同時他也是野生動物保護的倡導者。即使不在球場上，姚明也仍被新聞所關注。

The 33-year-old has also been a national political advisor since 2013, representing his native city Shanghai.

2013年，33歲的姚明代表他的家鄉上海，成爲了一名全國政協委員。