Yao’s injury could be ‘career-threatening’

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming’s broken left foot could be a “career-threatening” injury.

Dr. Tom Clanton, the Rockets’ team physician, told the Houston Chronicle on Monday that Yao’s injury “has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening.”

Yahoo Sports first reported that the Rockets and Yao’s representatives were concerned the 7-foot-6 All-Star would never play again. Yahoo Sports quoted “multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses.”

Yao suffered a hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone late in a 108-94 loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of the second round of the playoffs at Houston. The team said last week the injury hasn’t healed and he was out indefinitely.

Yao played in 77 regular-season games in 2008-09, his most injury-free year since 2004-05, when he played in 80. Before last season, Yao missed chunks of the previous three seasons because of leg and foot injuries.

General Manager Daryl Morey said last week Yao’s uncertain status wouldn’t affect any of his plans for trades or free-agent signings. He has said the Rockets are interested in re-signing free agent Ron Artest.