HOUSTON - HOUSTON'S Chinese centre Yao Ming will have surgery on his broken left foot next week and will probably miss all of the next National Basketball Association season.
The Rockets said on Friday they had no timetable for the return of the seven-time All-Star, but that he is 'expected to be available for the team's training camp in 2010'. That would be in October of 2010.
Yao, 28, chose surgery that will include a bone graft to promote bone regeneration, the team said. He also hopes to lower the arch in the foot by realigning and restructuring the bones.
'This surgery will allow me to continue my career playing basketball and I look forward to returning to the court,' Yao said in a statement. 'I would like to thank everyone who sent me their best wishes. I am very grateful to have the support of teammates, friends and fans as I dedicate myself to making a completely successful recovery.'
The decision to have the operation was expected. Houston applied for a disabled player exception from the NBA a few weeks ago, betting that their centre will miss next season as he recovers.
The NBA agreed that Yao's return is unlikely and approved the request, freeing up some US$5.7 million (S$8.26 million) that the Rockets used to sign free agent Trevor Ariza from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Yao suffered a hairline fracture in the foot in a playoff game on May 3. The Rockets first thought Yao would miss eight to 12 weeks. But an exam seven weeks later revealed the injury had not healed.
'This combination of procedures should not only allow healing of his navicular stress fracture, but also improve the mechanics of his foot to reduce the stress on that bone and give him the best long-term prognosis,' Rockets team doctor Tom Clanton said in a statement.
Clanton said Cleveland Cavaliers centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a similar procedure in 2001 that allowed him to return to action.
Yao recently purchased his former Chinese team, the financially embattled Shanghai Sharks. But he said this week that was not a sign he was considering retirement. -- AFP
