Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports! was the first to report Yao’s retirement. Wojnarowski posted on his twitter:
“Rockets’ Yao Ming has decided to retire from the NBA, league sources tell Y! Sports. He informed the league office within the past 48 hours.”
Back in December 2010 Yao announced that he would miss the remainder of the 2010-2011 season due to another stress fracture in his left ankle. The fracture was not the same bone as his previous injury, but is in the same ankle.
An MRI at the time revealed a stress fracture of the Medial Malleolus in his left ankle. The fracture, which was related to his previous injury of the Tarsal Navicular bone, presented itself during the course of his rehabilitation program.
The news was terrible for Yao as he was trying to battle back from injury.
Yao played just 5 games over the last 2 seasons due to injury.
Over his 9 year NBA career, Yao averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in 486 games. He was drafted with the 1st overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft and while he had tremendous expectations, injuries ultimately derailed his career.
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