HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, China’s most recognisable athlete, has announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association (NBA), according to several media reports yesterday.
The seven-foot six-inch (2.3-metre) Yao, an eight-time All-Star, has been plagued by assorted injuries in recent years and missed the entire 2009-10 NBA season after suffering a fractured bone in his left foot.
He played only five games for the Rockets last season before being sidelined on Nov. 10 when he injured his ankle during the first quarter of Houston’s 98-91 loss to the Washington Wizards.
Neither the Rockets nor the NBA were immediately available for comment on Friday.
Yao had cast doubt on his return to the NBA last month when he admitted to the possibility he may not play again because of his ongoing injury problems.
