Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming has been bestowed with an honorary doctorate from Hong Kong University. The big man was given the title at a ceremony on Tuesday.

Dressed in full graduation gear, the towering ex-Houston Rockets centre was certainly the 'centre' of attention as he was given an honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences from Hong Kong University.

The 7-foot, 6-inch Yao played eight years in the NBA, but retired due to recurring foot and ankle injuries. The top pick at the 2002 NBA Draft, he was an eight-time NBA All-Star, averaging 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Since retiring, the four-time Olympian has been running his former Chinese club the Shanghai Sharks, while also doing charity and environmental work.

Although the diploma he received is only a symbolic one, Yao is currently working towards a conventional degree in management at Shanghai's Jiaotong University.

Yao Ming said, "I am very excited and I feel very much honoured that I am granted this degree. For me, it's very much encouraging to be congratulated by so many people. I hope I will not disappoint everyone. I feel very tired studying in Jiaotong University. The classes and papers make me feel very exhausted. I will do it step by step, but if there is an opportunity, I am willing to try."