Yao Ming to Miss Rest of Season With Stress Fracture in Left Ankle

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Injuries

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season because of the stress fracture in his left ankle.



The Rockets announced the decision Friday, a day after the injury was found in an MRI exam. Team physician Walter Lowe said surgery is the usual treatment for such an injury, which has sidelined Yao since Nov. 10.



The 30-year-old Yao is still consulting with doctors to determine how he will proceed. If he chooses surgery, it could be up to 10 months before he can return to the court.



The seven-time All-Star sat out last season after reconstructive surgery to repair his broken left foot. Lowe said this injury is related to last year's injury. He said the reconstructive surgery on his foot does not put him at a greater risk of stress fractures, but that Yao has always been prone to them.



Yao's reconstructive surgery was to make the foot flatter and help distribute the stresses.



"When you look at the course of Yao's career, stress fractures have been part of his foot," Lowe said. "So to say he's not at a risk to continue to have stress fractures would be crazy. So he is at a continued risk. The new position of his foot should ... make those stresses lower."



Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he is hopeful that Yao will recover and play for the team in the future, despite the latest setback.

 

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