MANILA, Philippines – Former NBA player Yao Ming received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hong Kong.

Yao, who played for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011, was conferred a Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa, by Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-Ying.

The 32-year-old made the NBA All-Star team eight times, but the university also recognized Yao for his philanthropy.

Yao has taken part in several charity events and raised millions of pounds for different causes. -- Mornings @ ANC, November 28, 2012