Yao Ming graduates from the Chinese university after seven years

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) –

It's never too late to get a university degree. Yao Ming, former big Rockets player and Naismith Basketball, was finally graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University last weekend.

Yao is enrolled in 2011 as a student in economics. He gave a speech at the ceremony and informed the crowd of how he almost dropped out of school at some point because of the difficulty of his math classes.

Fortunately for Yao, he stayed at the university. This adds to his successful career on and off the hardwood.

Yao was with the Rockets from 2002 to 2011, making 8 All-Star Game appearances and having his # 11 retired by the organization.

He also has a restaurant "YAO Restaurant and Bar."

Since retiring, Yao has become a global ambassador for the NBA, helping to promote the game in China. It is also a big reason why the country has adopted the Rockets as a rooting favorite.

Congratulations, Yao!