Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets retired from basketball on Wednesday at the Grand Shanghai Ballroom in Shanghai, China, in front of many members of the media and his family.
“I am going to end my career as a basketball player and officially retire,” Ming said during his press conference, a transcript of which was provided on the China Daily website.
Ming has suffered three stress fractures to his left foot and simply could not come back from the injuries, despite having surgery to correct the problem and sitting out all but five games of the 2010-2011 season.
“At the end of last year I broke my left foot for a third time. I had to leave the basketball court, and spent the last half of the year waiting, just as many of those who care about me. During that period, I struggled a lot in my heart and thought a lot.”
His contract with the Rockets ended after the 2010-2011 season and the Rockets were open to re-signing the seven-footer, but only if he could show that his foot issues were behind him. He could not overcome the injury, so retirement was his only option.
Yao, the first-round pick of the Houston Rockets in 2002, averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in his career. He was the third tallest player in the NBA at 7’6”.
“I am going to end my career as a basketball player and officially retire,” Ming said during his press conference, a transcript of which was provided on the China Daily website.
Ming has suffered three stress fractures to his left foot and simply could not come back from the injuries, despite having surgery to correct the problem and sitting out all but five games of the 2010-2011 season.
“At the end of last year I broke my left foot for a third time. I had to leave the basketball court, and spent the last half of the year waiting, just as many of those who care about me. During that period, I struggled a lot in my heart and thought a lot.”
His contract with the Rockets ended after the 2010-2011 season and the Rockets were open to re-signing the seven-footer, but only if he could show that his foot issues were behind him. He could not overcome the injury, so retirement was his only option.
Yao, the first-round pick of the Houston Rockets in 2002, averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in his career. He was the third tallest player in the NBA at 7’6”.
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