As weary of the surgeries and long periods of grueling rehabilitation that follow as Yao Ming had become, he had grown more aggravated by the injuries that have sent him searching for solutions.
This time, in an effort to break the cycle of injuries, surgeries and rehabilitations that he had been unable to escape, Yao chose to undergo two procedures, one to repair the fractured bone in his left foot and another to try to keep it from breaking again.
Yao, 28, could miss all of next season, though the Rockets were hesitant Friday to specify a timetable for his return to workouts or competition other than that he is expected to be ready to participate in training camp in October 2010.
But the emphasis was not on when he will return to the floor but on how long he will remain there. After several weeks spent seeing specialists and considering his options, Yao chose to undergo a surgery next week that will include a bone graft to help with “bone regeneration.” A subsequent procedure will realign the bones in his left foot to reduce the arch of the foot and alleviate some of the stress in that area that could have led to the hairline fractures in the tarsal navicular bone the past two seasons.
For his second surgery on the bone, surgeons could place a plate over the bone, attached with shallow screws, rather than the pins used in February 2008 to strengthen the area.
“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to have surgery on my left foot,” Yao said in a statement. “This surgery will allow me to continue my career playing basketball, and I look forward to returning to the court. I would like to thank everyone who sent me their best wishes. I am very grateful to have the support of teammates, friends and fans as I dedicate myself to making a completely successful recovery.”
Though the surgery to repair the injury is expected to differ from his previous surgery, in which pins were inserted to strengthen the bone, the procedure to alter the operation of his foot is similar to the surgery performed on Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2001. Ilguaskas, 7-3, also broke the navicular bone in his left foot in consecutive seasons, but he has not had a recurrence of the foot problems that at the time threatened his career. He has averaged 74.5 games per season in the eight seasons since.
“This combination of procedures should not only allow healing of his navicular stress fracture but also improve the mechanics of his foot to reduce the stress on that bone and give him the best long-term prognosis,” said Rockets team physician Dr. Tom Clanton, who will perform the surgeries. “This surgical option is similar to the successful procedure used by Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2001.”
Ilgauskas returned to the floor 10 months after his surgery. Yao (7-6, 310 pounds) had pins placed in the same bone in February 2008 but returned to the court to compete in the Olympics six months later and played in 77 regular-season games without problems.
NBA grants exception
The NBA this month granted the Rockets’ request for a disabled player exception, indicating that it considered Yao’s injury to be season-ending. Though he would not discuss Yao’s surgery prior to Friday’s announcement, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey had said this week that the team had become increasingly optimistic about Yao’s long-term prognosis following his meetings with surgeons.
“Yao and the Rockets conducted due diligence in seeking a number of expert opinions regarding his medical options,” Morey said in a statement. “The consensus opinion was that he undergo a procedure to heal and realign his foot. We will implement all the resources available to help him make a complete and successful recovery.”
The 2009-10 season will be Yao’s fifth consecutive that has been interrupted, ended or missed because of a bone injury.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Yao is a great player and the Rockets will miss his skills and leadership on the floor next season.
“We will do everything we can to ensure he gets back as soon as possible,” Alexander said via text. “We have a very good core group of players on our roster who have elevated their level of play in the past and I expect they will again this season.”
Missing All-Stars
Yao played in all but two games in his first three NBA seasons, but he missed 83 regular-season games between 2005 and 2008, with four consecutive seasons ended or interrupted by bone injuries, each while fellow All-Star Tracy McGrady battled injuries.
The Rockets have gone 146-74 with Yao and McGrady on the floor, but Yao missed the 2008 postseason and McGrady was out for the 2009 playoffs.
Yao played more games last season than he has since the first three seasons of his career. But the bone cracked again May 8 in Game 3 of the Rockets’ Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets tried to treat the injury by immobilizing the foot, but a CT scan showed June 24 that it had gotten worse.
Anticipating Yao’s decision and a prolonged stretch without him, the Rockets have begun a transition to a team without Yao, with greater emphasis on a motion-based, fast-breaking offense. In addition to signing Trevor Ariza with the disabled player exception, the Rockets acquired the rights to center David Andersen.
“The prevailing thought was that Yao was going to miss a large chunk of time, potentially the whole year,” forward Shane Battier said. “The moves this summer were made to prepare for life without Yao this year, no question. We’ll miss Yao, but he needs to do what is best for his career and health and we need to do what is best for us to win a championship as soon as possible.
“It’s difficult to come back after missing a full year, but if he heals correctly, I don’t worry about Yao regaining his form, he’s such a diligent worker. I sort of assumed he would miss the year. I talked to Yao. He didn’t say he would miss the year, but I’m a realist and prepared for the worst. It didn’t shock me. I just want Yao to get healthy for his sake.”
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