Yao: Playing for China is a big honor

The longest 13 days in Yao Ming's 27 years of life ended on Wednesday after China lost to Lithuania. That the Chinese men's basketball team could not create an impact in Beijing re-ignited rumors over his retirement from the Olympics.

But the NBA star was not ready to answer that question with a straight yes or no.

"Playing for the country and competing in the Olympics is a big, big honor," he said in his trademark ambiguous tone. "I knew about the Olympics before I learned about the NBA ... playing in the Olympics was my childhood dream."