Yao Ming: Houston Rockets’ center set to retire, sources tell

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming
Image Credit: Getty images

Yao Ming, the iconic Asian basketball center who helped in the globalization of the NBA, has been determined to retire after playing for the Houston Rockets for nine-injury plagued seasons, sources from the league divulged, as reported by numerous sports news sites, July 8, 2011.

It was reported that the veteran center, who played just five games last season, informed the management of the Rockets of his intention to retire, sources said.

As revealed, Yao, who is set to become a free agent after the NBA’s lockout ends, was once touted to be the league’s dominant big man. However, numerous lower-body injuries made him miss quite a number of games, 25 in five of the past six seasons.

Apparently, the NBA (National Basketball Association) veteran was the top overall pick back in the 2002 NBA draft, with per-game career averages of 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots.

It was noted in the report that Yao had hoped the surgery will make it possible for him to play in the 2011-12 season of the NBA for the Houston Rockets, however he admits that he may have already played his last game.

Previous report last March 2010 quoted Yao as saying, “A career is almost like a car race.”

“You push the gas to see how good the car is. It takes time to get from zero to 100 miles [per hour]. This is the same thing. You don’t want to hit a hard brake. This is a hard brake for me. If you want me to start up again, you probably need me to take some time,” he adds.