Surgery puts Yao’s status in question

**888NBA** · 01-31-2011

Surgery puts Yao’s status in question
Rockets center plans to consider career options during rehabilitation

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle
Jan. 6, 2011, 9:05PM

Yao Ming’s first decision was not difficult. He did not have much of a choice and opted to undergo surgery Thursday to repair the fracture in his left ankle.

The next decision remains less certain.

Yao, 30, indicated in a statement Thursday that he has not decided whether to try another comeback and return to the court, though many of his consultations with physicians have been about the prospects for continuing his career, an indication that he hopes to play again.

Yao faces seven to 10 months of rehabilitation, according to Rockets team physician Dr. Walter Lowe. After six consecutive seasons with bone injuries, Yao, 7-6, has not said if he will attempt to resume his career next season.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their ongoing support,” Yao said in a statement. “I know this will be another long rehab, but I’m looking forward to beginning my recovery. I will use this time to consider all of my options and will make a decision regarding my career plans as I get closer to the end of my rehab.”

Yao was found to have a stress fracture in the ankle during the rehabilitation following his Nov. 10 ankle sprain and bone bruise.

He had been considering options, but Lowe had described surgery as “the smartest course of action.”

The surgery is not as extensive as Yao’s 2009 procedure that altered his left foot to lower his arch, but pins are used to strengthen the area that cracked.

A seven-time NBA All-Star, Yao is the leading vote-getter among Western Conference centers but played just five games this season, his ninth in the NBA.

“You knew it was coming,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said of the surgery. “You didn’t know when. You just hope with the surgery he can get back to where he can walk around and be ready to make whatever decision he needs to make at that point.

“That was purely his choice as to when he was going to do this. You have to feel for him. It sounds to me like it was something he had to do if he wants to play again or if he ever wants to have quality of life. He had to have this done.

“When he rehabilitates a little bit, we’ll see where he goes from there. We’re all behind him.”

The Rockets requested a disabled player exception from the NBA to allow them to replace Yao on the roster, giving them a chance if approved to exceed the salary cap by an additional $5.88 million in a trade or free-agent signing.

They have not been given an answer.

If the injury is ruled to have occurred before Dec. 1, they would have 45 days to use the exception, beginning with the date the injury was discovered, Dec. 16.

Though Yao is out for the season and will be a free agent after this season, the Rockets could offer his expiring contract in a trade to a team hoping to move long-term contracts or acquire the cost savings with insurance expected to pay most of Yao’s remaining salary this season.

General manager Daryl Morey said last month that the Rockets would consider signing Yao as a free agent if his prognosis is good, an option they would maintain even if his contract is traded.

Jack Chin
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