I feel very honored to have the opportunity to win the CBA title in 2002 with Shanghai Shark teammates, which has linked us all to this city behind.

Basketball also led me on a greater stage when I entered NBA that year. I could play with all I had.

What's more, I feel thankful that I had the opportunity to fight together with the national team for 10 years, which is many young players' dream, and through which I got to know and married my beloved woman, and made a happy family and obtained the happiness of my life.

All of these are brought by my love, basketball. I want to thank basketball.

我還要感謝生活，無論是我所熱愛的籃球還是別的東西，都是生活的一部分，我覺得生活就像一個向導，你虔誠追隨他，會打開一扇一扇的門。今天退役了，一扇門關上，另外一扇門打開，門外有嶄新的生活等著我認真品味。我雖然離開賽場，但是不會離開籃球，上海東方大鯊魚籃球隊是我籃球的延續，我正在用新的方式管理俱樂部，用這種方式為家鄉帶來快樂。我將繼續投身于社會公益事業，姚基金是我個人的基金會，已經成立三年，接下來我會以此為依托，影響更多的人參與慈善事業，幫助更多的人。同時我希望結識更多的朋友，一起做喜歡的事情，相信在與各行各業的有識之士的交往中，我會學到更多的東西，豐富精彩生活，引領我從上海走向全國，從中國走向世界。所以我要感謝生活，今后我要認真對待它，這才是對生活最好的回報。

I would also like to thank life. No matter my favorite basketball or something else, they are all parts of the life. Life is like a guide. When you sincerely follow it, it will open one and another door for you and the world outside of them is so different and exciting. Today, I retired. The door of basketball is closed, but another door has just opened which will lead me to a new life waiting for me to experience.

I will continue to participate in social welfare in the future. Yao Fund is my personal fund, which has been established for three years. And in the coming future, I will take this as the basis and call on more people to get involved in charity and help more people. And at the same time, I wish to know more friends here and to do some things together with you.

I believe the exchanges with all of you will teach me more things that will also enrich my life and help me to start from Shanghai to the whole country, from China to the whole world, so I'll thank life. And in the coming future, to take it seriously will be the best reward to life.

最后感謝我的親人和我所有的朋友，這里有一份很長的名單，由于時間的原因不能一一提及，只能選讀其中的代表，希望你們多多見諒。首先感謝的是我的家人，父母是我人生的啟蒙者，葉莉是我最好的傾聽者，可愛的姚沁蕾是我的新希望。感謝教練，是他們培養我，見證了我每一步的成長，有啟蒙指導李章明，李秋平，王群，王崇光，我在國家訓練隊的教練馬連保指導，在國家隊的歷任教練王非、蔣興權還有德爾-哈里斯、尤納斯，還有火箭隊歷任教練，湯姆賈諾維奇、杰夫-范甘迪、里克-阿德爾曼，還有前任總經理道森，我還要感謝各位領導，特別是國家體育總局，上海市，中國籃協，上海體育局和上海文廣集團和原上海大鯊魚隊的老板，他們的關心、支持和鼓勵使我不斷前進，取得今天的成績。

At last, I want to thank my family and all my friends. I have a very long name list here, but for time limit, I can only mention some of you, please forgive me.

Firstly I want to thank my family member, parents, who are the enlightenment to me, Ye Li is the best listener, and my daughter Yao Qinlei is my new hope. I also want to thank my coaches, who have witnessed every step of my growth, including my mentors, all coaches in Shanghai Sharks, and the coaches in national team, in Rockets, and former manager.

I also want to thank all leaders, especially State General Administration of Sports, especially State General Administration of Sports, Shanghai Basketball Association, Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Wenguang Group and leaders from Shanghai Sharks. Their care, encouragement always drives me to progress and to get today's achievement.