Lokacin da Yao ya yanke shawarar shiga cikin NBA na 2002, an kafa wata ƙungiyar masu ba da shawara da aka sani da "Team Yao". Kungiyar ta ƙunshi mai tattaunawar Yao, Erik Zhang; wakilin NBA, Bill Duffy; wakilinsa na kasar Sin, Lu Hao; farfesa a fannin tattalin arziki na Jami'ar Chicago John Huizinga; da mataimakin shugaban talla a BDA Sports Management, Bill Sanders. An yi hasashen cewa Yao za a zaba shi a matsayin lamba ɗaya. Duk da haka, wasu kungiyoyi sun yi tasiri ga Yao don sanya hannu kan kwangilar da kamfanin Evergreen Sports Inc. ya yi aiki a matsayin wakilinsa. Yarjejeniyar ta ba Evergreen damar samun kashi 33% na kudin Yao, amma daga baya an yanke shawarar cewa kwangilar ba ta da inganci. Lokacin da Yao ya yanke shawarar shiga cikin NBA na 2002, an kafa wata ƙungiyar masu ba da shawara da aka sani da "Team Yao".
Kamfanin Evergreen Sports Inc.