The history between the Houston Rockets and China actually goes back to before Yao Ming was selected as the number one draft pick in 2002. In the late 70s, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s trip to the United States in 1979 featured a stop at a rodeo. The simple wearing of a 10-gallon hat sent the signal to China that Houston was a safe place.
While the Michael Jordan era in the 90s began the overall explosion of international interest in the NBA, Yao mania is what eventually swung the doors wide open for the Houston Rockets to become China’s favorite team for many years.