Yao has not announced retirement–report

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets looks on during an opening night game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP FILE PHOTO

BEIJING, China – China’s iconic basketball centre Yao Ming has not announced his retirement, Chinese state media said Saturday, amid numerous reports that the All Star millionaire was quitting the game.

“First Yao Ming has not decided to retire,” Xinhua news agency quoted Zhang Mingji, Yao’s agent in China as saying.

“Second, Yao has not informed the Rockets and the National Basketball Association (NBA) that he would retire.”

China Central Television reported that Yao’s management team would issue a formal statement later Saturday.

According to multiple reports in the United States Friday, the 2.29 metre (seven-foot-six) giant who became the NBA’s first superstar player from Asia, has notified the Houston Rockets and the NBA that he has retired.

The Houston Chronicle, ESPN and Sports Illustrated reported that Yao has decided against trying to make another comeback after injuries limited him to playing in only five games over the past two NBA seasons.

The Chronicle reported that Yao told the club a month ago he was not coming back.

Although China’s sports media was awash with reports of Yao’s retirement Saturday, an official with the Chinese Basketball Association told Agence France-Presse that the league had not been able to confirm that Yao was leaving the game.

Officials with the Shanghai Sharks, a club owned by Yao, were unavailable for comment.

With NBA players locked out by owners in a contract dispute, there was no immediate confirmation from the Rockets or the league regarding the status of Yao, whose groundbreaking career helped the global growth of basketball.

The 30-year-old from Shanghai made his debut for the Rockets in 2002 after a stellar career for the Chinese national team and the Shanghai Sharks.

While Yao was not the first Chinese player in the NBA, his engaging personality made him a favorite for sponsors seeking a way to attract interest in China and for NBA fans across Asia.