"If all of the reports are true, and Yao Ming really intends to announce his retirement in a news conference on July 20, then that makes it even more depressing that his career ended at Verizon Center. It seemed like an innocuous collision on Nov. 10, when JaVale McGee crashed into Yao in the first quarter of one of John Wall's most memorable games as a rookie.

But when Yao struggled to get up, grimaced as he walked off the court, and later limped to the sideline, the gravity of the situation started to take hold. Only a month later, the Houston Rockets announced that Yao's season had come to an end. Now, it seems, so has his career after Yao played eight seasons in nine years after going No. 1 overall in 2002; betrayed by brittle bones in his lower body.

Yao's exit made me think back to his delayed NBA debut, which still stands as one of the greatest misses for the Wizards franchise.

After his eye-opening appearance in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, when Yao -- then barely 20 years old -- caught the attention of NBA scouts by blocking a dunk attempt by the Frederick-Weis-hurdling Vince Carter, he was expected to be the possible No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA draft. He glided down the court for a big man, had excellent touch on his jumper and incredible passing skills.

Yao also had done something else only two years before the Olympics — he impressed Michael Jordan with his skills while attending his camp in Santa Barbara, Calif. Yao had made a three-pointer over Jordan and Jordan reportedly joked that the Chicago Bulls should sign him. ESPN The Magazine anointed Yao as "Next.""