Instead of healing, a recent scan of the fractured left foot of Yao Ming may have gotten worse. There have been numerous reports that the Rockets’ center may now miss all of next season, others have stated the broken navicular bone could be career-threatening .
The facts are these. Yao has missed 92 games the last four years with the Rockets advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs just once in that period.
While it is too early to tell definitively about Yao’s playing days, Rocket management must consider personnel alternatives. Houston general manager Daryl Morey assembled last season’s team believing they’d have three star players in Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady and Yao. With free agency and injury that may soon be zip. It may be time for the Rocket organization to be thinking about a youth movement.
Nobody wants a what-if career and as far as Yao, a fine teammate and dedicated player, let us hope that he doesn’t join the unfortunate victims of career-ending injuries such as:
Sam Bowie, the seven-foot Portland Trailblazer picked ahead of Michael Jordan, who couldn’t overcome leg issues which also befell another Portland Trailblazing big man. Bill Walton had a terrific career at UCLA and though he did get an NBA title, his foot injuries shortchanged his game. In baseball, pitcher Mark Prior had legend-in-the-making results. In 2003, at 22, the former USC flamethrower went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in just 211 innings for the Chicago Cubs, but injuries have slowed him down to the point of winning only 18 cumulatively since then. Bo Jackson’s hip injury at 28 ended his baseball and football all-star careers. At 29 Packer receiving star Sterling Sharpe suffered a neck injury that ended his playing days.
The Great Bo Jackson Out at Just 28
100+ games a year on hardwood including playoffs and for some, the Olympics, is a heavy pounding to take.
Oh for Yao. a good guy, played many games for his country in addition to a rigorous NBA schedule then gets hurt in playoffs against lakers. I hope he is able to recover fully and play again.
Goes to show that injuries spare no one.
Yeah some good athletes have had careers cut short by injury. No one is immune.
NBA basketball has been in existence over 60+ years. Players who’ve had foot problems are: Yao, Zadrunis (sp), Walton, Duncan, Michael Jordan, etc. This is an unusual ailment considering all the players who’ve passed thru the league. Consider both Walton and Yao are vegetarians. Hmmmmm….
Looks like Ariza took the money and ran..hope he is fulfilled with one title because he aint gonna get one in Houston.