Yao Ming’s broken foot is not healed, and the Houston Rockets said on Wednesday the All-Star center is out indefinitely.
Yao suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot in the Rockets’ second-round playoff loss to the Lakers on May 8. The team initially said Yao would miss eight to 12 weeks, but team doctor Tom Clanton examined Yao’s foot in Houston and said the injury has not responded to the treatment program.
A bone scan conducted late on Wednesday revealed the fracture had not healed. The team now says no timeline is set for Yao’s return to basketball activities, though Clanton said Yao is experiencing no pain in his foot.
The team said the original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to use a walking boot to immobilize the foot and promote healing.
Team spokesman Nelson Luis said late on Wednesday that Yao and the Rockets will consult with doctors before proceeding with a new course of treatment.
Yao was the Rockets’ leading scorer and rebounder in their first nine playoff games, but injuries have now cut short each of his last four seasons.
Yao missed 21 games in 2005-2006 because of an infection in his left big toe, then broke a bone in his left foot in April. He broke his right leg in the 2006-2007 season and sat out 32 games, then suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in 2007-2008 and missed the playoffs.
He played in 77 games last season before injuring the same troublesome foot again in Game 3 against the Lakers.
Two days later, Yao was surprisingly upbeat and seemed confident this injury was not serious.
Yao returned to China after the playoffs and has spent time participating in charity events. His offseason was also scheduled to include a basketball camp in Beijing from July 30 to Aug. 2.
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