Former NBA star Ming

Archive answer — August 7, 2026

53 Down

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Clue explained

“YAO” is the published 3-letter fill for 53 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

LA Times Crossword

This clue’s Friday, August 7, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

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Across

37 clues
  1. 1Sheer
  2. 6Walrus kin
  3. 10Waffle over in the freezer aisle
  4. 14Bête __
  5. 15Shoestring
  6. 16Infuriate
  7. 17"Our previous recommendation stands"?
  8. 19Explore Mars, perhaps
  9. 20Ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  10. 21Reaction to lions and tigers and bears
  11. 22Vein of ore
  12. 23Genesis locale
  13. 25"My peacock's tail is the best!," e.g.?
  14. 29Genesis locale
  15. 31Accessory often tipped or used for tips
  16. 32"Dee-lish!"
  17. 33French bean
  18. 37"We are not alone" subj.
  19. 38Features of some detours, or what four answers in this puzzle need in order to match their clues?
  20. 40"Shoo!"
  21. 42"Call Me" band
  22. 43Bud
  23. 44Refuse to settle, perhaps
  24. 45Sticker
  25. 49Record of one's attempts to enter a hedge maze?
  26. 54Mountain lion
  27. 55"Yer killin' me!"
  28. 56Utah city near two national parks
  29. 58Fishing pole
  30. 59Drops from above
  31. 60Promise made by a serial dater who aspires to commit?
  32. 63Early Bond foe
  33. 64Actor Auberjonois
  34. 65
  35. 66Fortuneteller
  36. 67Spanish kiss
  37. 68Touchscreen tappers

Down

41 clues
  1. 1Marries
  2. 2Home of the El Greco Museum
  3. 3Pitching
  4. 4Pitching stat
  5. 5Make over
  6. 6Substance celebrated by the Sloomoo Institute
  7. 7Smooth course
  8. 8Best club in Vegas?
  9. 9Was up
  10. 10Bad move
  11. 11Peace offerings?
  12. 12Buckle
  13. 13The Grand __ Opry
  14. 18TV broadcast band
  15. 22Allow
  16. 24Like a 2024 Blake Snell game
  17. 26Sticker
  18. 27Despised
  19. 28French friend
  20. 30Steamed
  21. 34Symbolic puzzle that dates to the Middle Ages
  22. 35Key
  23. 36Cybersecurity exec
  24. 37Very much inclined
  25. 38Source of some pink seasoning
  26. 39Ramadan-ending holiday, informally
  27. 40Cocoa scrub venue
  28. 41Auto maintenance
  29. 44Transgression
  30. 46Respectful dip
  31. 47Virtually indifferent?
  32. 48"The People's Princess"
  33. 50Show respect for
  34. 51Signs
  35. 52Shakespeare lover
  36. 53Former NBA star MingYAO
  37. 57Jewish rite
  38. 59Hwys.
  39. 60Sphere consulted by a 66-Across
  40. 61Born abroad
  41. 62CPR expert

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Sheer

    Answer: UTTER

  2. 6. Walrus kin

    Answer: SEAL

  3. 10. Waffle over in the freezer aisle

    Answer: EGGO

  4. 14. Bête __

    Answer: NOIRE

  5. 15. Shoestring

    Answer: LACE

  6. 16. Infuriate

    Answer: ROIL

  7. 17. "Our previous recommendation stands"?

    Answer: ILLADVISED

  8. 19. Explore Mars, perhaps

    Answer: ROVE

  9. 20. Ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet

    Answer: TET

  10. 21. Reaction to lions and tigers and bears

    Answer: OHMY

  11. 22. Vein of ore

    Answer: LODE

  12. 23. Genesis locale

    Answer: EDEN

  13. 25. "My peacock's tail is the best!," e.g.?

    Answer: FEATHERBOA

  14. 31. Accessory often tipped or used for tips

    Answer: HAT

  15. 32. "Dee-lish!"

    Answer: YUM

  16. 33. French bean

    Answer: HARICOT

  17. 37. "We are not alone" subj.

    Answer: SETI

  18. 38. Features of some detours, or what four answers in this puzzle need in order to match their clues?

    Answer: SIDESTREETS

  19. 40. "Shoo!"

    Answer: SCAT

  20. 42. "Call Me" band

    Answer: BLONDIE

  21. 43. Bud

    Answer: PAL

  22. 44. Refuse to settle, perhaps

    Answer: SUE

  23. 45. Sticker

    Answer: DECAL

  24. 49. Record of one's attempts to enter a hedge maze?

    Answer: ARTHISTORY

  25. 54. Mountain lion

    Answer: PUMA

  26. 55. "Yer killin' me!"

    Answer: CMON

  27. 56. Utah city near two national parks

    Answer: MOAB

  28. 58. Fishing pole

    Answer: ROD

  29. 59. Drops from above

    Answer: RAIN

  30. 60. Promise made by a serial dater who aspires to commit?

    Answer: ONEMORETRY

  31. 63. Early Bond foe

    Answer: DRNO

  32. 64. Actor Auberjonois

    Answer: RENE

  33. 66. Fortuneteller

    Answer: SEER

  34. 67. Spanish kiss

    Answer: BESO

  35. 68. Touchscreen tappers

    Answer: STYLI

Down

  1. 1. Marries

    Answer: UNITES

  2. 2. Home of the El Greco Museum

    Answer: TOLEDO

  3. 3. Pitching

    Answer: TILTED

  4. 4. Pitching stat

    Answer: ERA

  5. 5. Make over

    Answer: REDO

  6. 6. Substance celebrated by the Sloomoo Institute

    Answer: SLIME

  7. 7. Smooth course

    Answer: EASYA

  8. 8. Best club in Vegas?

    Answer: ACE

  9. 9. Was up

    Answer: LED

  10. 10. Bad move

    Answer: ERROR

  11. 11. Peace offerings?

    Answer: GOODBYES

  12. 12. Buckle

    Answer: GIVEOUT

  13. 13. The Grand __ Opry

    Answer: OLE

  14. 18. TV broadcast band

    Answer: VHF

  15. 22. Allow

    Answer: LET

  16. 24. Like a 2024 Blake Snell game

    Answer: NOHIT

  17. 27. Despised

    Answer: HATED

  18. 28. French friend

    Answer: AMI

  19. 30. Steamed

    Answer: MAD

  20. 34. Symbolic puzzle that dates to the Middle Ages

    Answer: REBUS

  21. 35. Key

    Answer: ISLET

  22. 36. Cybersecurity exec

    Answer: CTO

  23. 37. Very much inclined

    Answer: STEEP

  24. 38. Source of some pink seasoning

    Answer: SALTMINE

  25. 39. Ramadan-ending holiday, informally

    Answer: EID

  26. 40. Cocoa scrub venue

    Answer: SPA

  27. 41. Auto maintenance

    Answer: CARCARE

  28. 44. Transgression

    Answer: SIN

  29. 46. Respectful dip

    Answer: CURTSY

  30. 47. Virtually indifferent?

    Answer: AMORAL

  31. 48. "The People's Princess"

    Answer: LADYDI

  32. 50. Show respect for

    Answer: HONOR

  33. 51. Signs

    Answer: OMENS

  34. 52. Shakespeare lover

    Answer: ROMEO

  35. 53. Former NBA star Ming

    Answer: YAO

  36. 57. Jewish rite

    Answer: BRIS

  37. 59. Hwys.

    Answer: RDS

  38. 60. Sphere consulted by a 66-Across

    Answer: ORB

  39. 61. Born abroad

    Answer: NEE

  40. 62. CPR expert

    Answer: EMT

The answer to “Former NBA star Ming” in the LA Times Crossword is YAO — a 3-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 7, 2026 at 53-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Former NBA star Ming” answer

YAO(3 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does YAO fit?

YAO is the published 3-letter answer at 53-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Former NBA star Ming” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Former NBA star Ming”?

The answer is YAO.

How many letters are in the answer?

3 letters: YAO.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the LA Times Crossword for August 7, 2026 at 53-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the LA Times answers page for August 7, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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