Basketball - Yao Ming Returns From Leg Injury

After missing 32 games because of a broken bone under his right knee, Yao Ming returned to Houston Rockets. Yao, who is 7 foot 6, was part of the starting lineup for the game against Cleveland Cavaliers.

Yao said that he was returning with no limitations. During the pregame shootaround, Yao sat at his locker wearing a black brace on his right knee. However, he does not think that the brace would slow him down nor was he concerned that the Cavaliers would try to test his leg.

Yao had fractured his right tibia plateau when he jumped to block a shot and his knee got caught under Tim Thomas’ body during the Rockets’ game against Los Angeles Clippers on December 23, 2006.

Before the injury, Yao was having his best season in the NBA. He was averaging 26 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Before the injury, in four of the five games he played, he scored more than 30 points.

With Yao in the team, the Rockets managed 20-12 but have been struggling of late. They lost three of their last four games including a 97-74 loss to San Antonio recently.

In the last one year, this is the third time that Yao has been injured. In December 2006, he had a surgery for a toe infection and ended up missing 21 games. In April 2006, he broke his left foot and as a result he missed the final four games of the season.

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said he did not know how many minutes Yao would be playing till he actually saw him play. could handle until he saw him playing.