Yao Ming, the Chinese basketball giant who became the NBA's first superstar player from Asia, says he'll retire.
Yao will not return to the Houston Rockets who he has played 8 seasons for.
Yao's NBA career with the Rockets had been plagued by numerous injuries, the most recent of them a stress fracture in his left leg suffered in a November 10th loss last season at Washington which proved to be his farewell game.
In 486 NBA games, Yao averaged 19 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.6 assists.