Yao Ming Hopes to Stay in Houston

A few years ago, the thought of Yao Ming playing for a team other than the Houston Rockets would have been considered insane. Chronic injuries have changed that, but Yao doesn’t want to go anywhere else once he’s healthy enough to play. The Chronicle reports: “Facing the possibility that his inability to play without injury would end his career or prompt him to choose to retire, Yao said for the first time since his injury he hopes to come back from the stress fracture that ended his season in November. ‘I’ll try continuing,’ Yao said Thursday. A lot will depend on this foot. Asked if he believes he will play again, he said, ‘That’s the direction.’ In the final season of his contract, Yao added he hopes to be back with the Rockets.’ ‘I like it here. I’m used to playing here,’ he said. ‘I’m comfortable, really, really comfortable to play here, and I have my family here. I’m not really planning to leave.’ Told of Yao’s comments, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey would not discuss the team’s plans, but he was as clear about his preference. ‘I hope Yao Ming comes back to play again,’ Morey said, ‘and I hope that it’s here.”