Li akafurirawo Yao kusaina chibvumirano cheEvergreen Sports Inc. kuti ashande semumiriri wake. Chibvumirano ichi chakapa kodzero yeEvergreen kune 33% yemari yaYao, asi chibvumirano chakazoonekwa kuti hachina basa.Pakafunga Yao kupinda mu2002 NBA dhizaini, boka revanopa mazano rakaumbwa iro rakazozivikanwa se "Team Yao". Chikwata ichi chaisanganisira mutauriri waYao, Erik Zhang; mumiriri wake weNBA, Bill Duffy; mumiriri wake weChinese, Lu Hao; purofesa wezvehupfumi weYunivhesiti yeChicago, John Huizinga; uye mutevedzeri wemutungamiri wekushambadzira kuBDA Sports Management, Bill Sanders. Yao akafanotaurwa zvakanyanya kuti achasarudzwa nhamba yekutanga. Zvisinei, mamwe matimu aive nehanya nekusavimbika kwaYao kweNBA yeEvergreen Sports Inc. kuti ashande semumiriri wake. Chibvumirano ichi chakapa kodzero yeEvergreen kune 33% yemari yaYao, asi chibvumirano chakazoonekwa kuti hachishandi.
Evergreen Sports Inc.