HOUSTON (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday to repair the stress fracture in his left ankle.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the procedure had not been officially announced by the team. Yao’s surgery was first reported by KRIV-TV.
The 7-foot-6 Yao has been out since Nov. 10, and played in only five games this season before the team declared him out for the season. The seven-time All-Star missed all of last season following reconstructive foot surgery.
The Rockets have asked the league for a disabled player exception that would allow the team to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the midlevel exception (about $5.75 million).
