HOUSTON ? Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will retire from the NBA after an eight-year career, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.
Citing league sources, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday that the veteran center told the Rockets, the NBA and NBA China sometime in the last 48 hours about his decision.
"We have not received any official notification of his retirement," said NBA spokesman Tim Frank .
KHOU 11 Sports contacted Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, but he would not comment on the matter.
KHOU 11 Sports talked to a close of friend of Yao's, who said he might retire, but that it's not official at this point. The friend said Yao is going to seek another opinion from another doctor before he makes his final decision.
Yao, the top pick in the 2002 NBA draft, averaged 19 points and just over 9 rebounds per game during his career.
In the past two seasons, the 7-foot-6 center has played in just five games. His most recent season ended on Nov. 10 in Washington, when he suffered a stress fracture in his left leg.