原休斯顿火箭队中锋姚明正式获得了奈史密斯篮球名人堂提名资格，此举将会使他成为获此殊荣的中国第一人。

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.

据美国FOX26报道，名人堂最近更改了提名规则，即球员退役的年限要求从5年降低为4年。姚明于2002年至2011年在火箭队效力。而在2011年退役的姚明今年正好符合这一规则。火箭队方面也在规则更改后第一时间提名姚明入选名人堂。

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.

规则的改变为姚明打开了大门，其它的NBA传奇人物，特别是奥尼尔、艾弗森等人也同时获得了此资格。

姚明被正式提名为2016年NBA名人堂候选

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关于被提名的电话采访时表示，“自己非常兴奋，也很紧张。”

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.

自从2002年被火箭队选中，在这之后的时间里，这个7尺6寸的巨人逐渐成长，前后共八次入选NBA全明星，并成为了联盟里最优秀的中国球员。在饱受伤病的折磨之后，2011年7月这位经验丰富的球员被迫退役，结束了自己的运动生涯。

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，退役并没有让姚明淡出聚光灯下，他一直是中国国际性运动的一张名片，同时他也是野生动物保护的倡导者。即使不在球场上，姚明也仍被新闻所关注。

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

2013年，33岁的姚明代表他的家乡上海，成为了一名全国政协委员。