Related News
Home » Sports » Basketball
Yao return next season 'not ruled out' - Rockets
Source: Agencies |
September 2, 2009, Wednesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINESE center Yao Ming is progressing well after foot surgery and while a return to court for the Houston Rockets next season remains unlikely, it has not been ruled out, the NBA team's general manager said. The hairline fracture to his left foot is the latest in a string of injuries to the 7ft-6in (2.28m) Yao and was described as "career-threatening" by the team doctor with the Rockets saying it would definitely rule him out for the 2009/10 season.
However, the 28-year-old underwent surgery on the fracture in Houston in July and Daryl Morey said the prognosis was positive. "Yao Ming is progressing well," he told ESPN TV. "I don't think that (the end of career) is something that will happen, based on what I'm hearing from the doctors.
"They do know that the bone will heal and he'll get back on it. And they have not actually ruled out this season. I think that's less likely than likely, but they haven't ruled it out.
"And next season, the outlook is very good. He just took off the cast for a short period (two weeks ago), so the doctors could examine it, and everything is going well. Everything is on track."
Yao fractured his foot during the Western Conference semi-finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 8 and the operation to repair it also included procedures to "change the alignment of his foot" and prevent the injury recurring.
The Shanghainese is China's most popular sportsman and topped the most recent Forbes China list of entertainers with an estimated income of 357 million yuan (US$52.27 million).
Seven-times an All Star, Yao has averaged 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game since joining the Rockets in 2002. The 2009/10 NBA season starts on Oct. 29.
However, the 28-year-old underwent surgery on the fracture in Houston in July and Daryl Morey said the prognosis was positive. "Yao Ming is progressing well," he told ESPN TV. "I don't think that (the end of career) is something that will happen, based on what I'm hearing from the doctors.
"They do know that the bone will heal and he'll get back on it. And they have not actually ruled out this season. I think that's less likely than likely, but they haven't ruled it out.
"And next season, the outlook is very good. He just took off the cast for a short period (two weeks ago), so the doctors could examine it, and everything is going well. Everything is on track."
Yao fractured his foot during the Western Conference semi-finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 8 and the operation to repair it also included procedures to "change the alignment of his foot" and prevent the injury recurring.
The Shanghainese is China's most popular sportsman and topped the most recent Forbes China list of entertainers with an estimated income of 357 million yuan (US$52.27 million).
Seven-times an All Star, Yao has averaged 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game since joining the Rockets in 2002. The 2009/10 NBA season starts on Oct. 29.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
