Yao Ming: ‘I Might Choose to Call it Quits’

Yao tells the Xinhua News Agency that his career may come to a sad end if his surgically-repaired foot doesn’t fully heal. The AP has the report: “In wide-ranging comments to Chinese state media on Monday, Yao sounded far from optimistic about his future and also made a rare criticism of China’s national basketball program. ‘If the foot injury does not heal next season, I might choose to call it quits,’ Yao said. Yao missed last season following foot surgery, but is set to return to the Rockets after deciding not to opt out of the final year of his contract. Though he has said his recovery was going well, the Rockets have signed 7-foot veteran Brad Miller to share the work at center. The 7-foot-6 Yao, who was in his native China for a series of charity events, all but ruled out playing for his country in the 2012 London Olympics. ‘The chance (to play in London) is very small. The foot injury will not allow me to play so many games anymore,’ Yao was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. ‘Like I said before, I will quit the national team and the sport one day. It’s what happens to every athlete.'”