Yao Ming retiring is not the welcome news new head coach Kevin McHale was hoping for. According to the Houston Chronicle, the dominating center has decided to retire after nine NBA seasons.

“We’d all be really happy if Yao comes back to play, and I hope he can,” McHale said recently.

The Rockets need their big man no doubt; they have missed the NBA Playoffs the past two seasons with Ming spending most of those nights in street clothes sitting on the pine. In the 2009-10 season Ming only played five games.

Ming (7ft, 6, 310) is an icon overseas in China and in addition to expanding/marketing the NBA there he has made an impressive mark during his time on an NBA court. In fact between 2002-09 he was selected to the All-Star game. Yao averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Ming has been dealing with serious injuries over the past several years leading to several trips to the doc and IR list but after a recent surgery on his left ankle, Yahoo! Sports says he has informed the league office he is retiring.

Ming would join another fan favorite into retirement; Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq made a video aimed at Yao, congratulating him on his decision, saying:

“We’re going to miss you, bro. You’re one of the greatest players ever to come out of China. You’re one of the greatest players, period. Enjoy retirement. Let’s go on vacation, bro. Me and you.”

With the NBA lockout in effect and these two big men gone from the game, it’s going to create an even bigger challenge for the league to win any fan base back if the season gets a late start.

Shaq’s Stats Say It All – Sports Climax

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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