HOUSTON — Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is retiring, according to a report by Yahoo Sports.
The 7-foot-6 Chinese star, plagued by lower-body injuries in the second half of his career, has informed the league office that his playing career is over, the website reported.
The Rockets declined to comment on the report because of the lockout, and the NBA has not received official retirement paperwork from Yao.
Yao played in five games last season after missing the entire 2009-10 season. In April he said his professional future depended on his recovery from a stress fracture in his left ankle.
An eight-time all-star selection, Yao averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in his eight seasons. Yao, who turns 31 in September, missed a total of 250 regular-season games over the past six seasons due mostly to injuries to his left foot and leg.
Weems won’t wait.
Sonny Weems has joined Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania, signing a contract that will keep him in Europe all season rather than risk sitting out an entire year if the NBA lockout lasts.
Weems, who was with the Nuggets for 12 games in the 2008-09 season, averaged 9.2 points in 59 games for the Toronto Raptors last season.
