Making Yao Ming's dream a reality

David Shoemaker, CEO of NBA China, has vivid memories of the day in 2011 when Yao Ming announced his retirement.

Shoemaker was busy answering phone calls from friends and families who asked him if he regretted taking the job in China, when the announcement came through, just a month after he started in his new role.

"But I attended his (Yao's) retirement ceremony and listened very carefully to his words and he was thoughtful in what he said. He said, 'I'm leaving the court but not the game'," Shoemaker said, during a round-table forum with reporters in Shanghai on Friday.