Latest Yao update shouldn't be a surprise

I hope you’re not stunned by this revelation. If you are, can we talk about some real estate that would be a fine investment for you?

So Yao Ming delivers the news to the Chinese media that if his foot isn’t fully recovered this season, he’ll walk, or hobble, away from basketball. And this is drawing international interest?  Wait until word gets out about how the earth rotates around the sun.

If his foot doesn’t heal, Yao may quit basketball. The truth is, if Yao’s foot doesn’t heal, basketball may quit Yao.

Where do we begin? How about with this: Yao Ming is one of the most professional, hard-working, conscientious players ever to grace a Rockets uniform and perhaps ever to wear an NBA uniform. It’s a shame foot and leg problems have diminished his career. Good guys with so much talent and such work ethic deserve better. But…

This is a player that hasn’t completed a season with his team since 2005. It’s 2010. And we’re supposed to be shocked to hear that this might be it for the big fella?

In 2005, it was surgery on the big toe. In 2006 it was an injured knee. The 2007-08 season brought a stress fracture to the left foot. During the 2009 playoffs, it was a fracture in the left foot again.  Yao has missed so many games, suffered so many set-backs and undergone so much rehab that it’s somewhat commendable that he’s trying it again.

By all accounts, Yao has worked hard to bring the foot (and the leg) back close to basketball ready. But it would make real news if Yao is able to complete this season with the Rockets-including any playoff run. Yao is 7-6 and over 300 pounds. That’s a lot for a twice-broken foot to carry around.

The Rockets say they will limit Yao’s minutes and Yao concurs that it’s right strategy. Tuesday afternoon, in response to the story out of China, Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey Tweeted, “Yao Ming is working diligently on his return and has consistently received positive feedback at each of his scheduled medical checkups. He is currently participating in on-court basketball workouts and we continue to expect him to be ready for training camp which begins 9/25.”

The Rockets are approaching the current season as if it’s the final shot with Yao because owner Les Alexander is willing to meander into luxury-tax territory when it comes to his payroll. But, if you injected Rockets management with truth serum they would likely admit that they wonder seriously if Yao will give them a full season. Or if the window has already closed. Going by Yao’s remarks, he must be wondering too.

Maybe free agents that the Rockets pursued also had their doubts. It had to cross their mind-“Is this guy even going to be around in a year?”

Here’s to hoping Yao makes the comeback that Zydrunas Ilgauskas was able to make after similar injuries.  But the question is not what happens with Yao in 2012. It’s whether Yao Ming will be able to complete the upcoming season. If he doesn’t, 2012 and beyond is a moot point.