Yao Ming, TIME's Person of the Year 2025?

  • By Elizabeth Sy
  • Beijing
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Yao Ming among finalists for TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year?
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According to a well-informed source, Yao Ming is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2025. But while the basketball player's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.

UPDATE 11/04/2025 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Why not Yao for Person of the Year?

The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 44-year-old basketball player, as a 2025 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.

“What makes Yao so important is the potential and influence he now has, rather than anything he has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the basketball player have already been named ‘Chinese Of The Year’ by some major Chinese newspapers and even ‘Shanghai Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Shanghai (Yao Ming's hometown).

Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year

A representative for the basketball player was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:

“Yao Ming Named Person of the Year Is No ‘Surprise’.”
— @TheNewsEditor, 10 Apr 2025
“Congrats! Ming has this charisma that seems to come out of nowhere.”
— @SamanthaJones, 10 Apr 2025
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not Yao Ming?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 10 Apr 2025

Could 2025 officially be the Year of Yao Ming?

Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2025 Person of the Year.

Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2025?

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