The Philippine Online Chronicles

Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming finally announced his retirement as a basketball player due to injuries suffered during his last few years in the league.

In a press conference in Shanghai, the 7'6" Yao confirmed he is ending his basketball career after he had "waited and hoped that I could return" from a broken foot last year.

"It was a frustrating period and many thoughts crossed my mind. Today I would like to announce my personal decision to formally retire as a basketball player," Yao said.

The 30-year-old eight-time All-Star also thanked his team, the Houston Rockets, among whom he was chosen as the team's first pick during the 2002 NBA draft.

"I would like to thank you for giving me a great nine-year career," he said. "Nine years ago I came to Houston as a young, tall, skinny player and the entire city and team changed me into a grown man, not only a basketball player."

Over his final five years in the league, Yao has suffered broken bones in his left leg, surgery on his left big toe, a right knee injury, and ankle injuries. A fractured bone in his left foot made him miss the entire 2009-2010 season.

"Even though I'm leaving the basketball court I am not leaving the game. The Shanghai Sharks is how my professional life will continue,” Yao stated. "I am continuing to learn about managing and running the team and will do my best to bring honour and glory to my hometown and to Chinese basketball."

In a statement, NBA official David Stern praised and regarded Yao as a transformational player of the league, adding that the Chinese player has been “a source of enormous pride to the people of China and people of Chinese descent in the United States."

With Yao's retirement, a New York Times report noted that the NBA star's homeland China is unprepared to replace him, saying that China had relied heavily on Yao for victory and national pride while setting aside shortcomings in their state sports system.

Basketball commentator and former national team member Zhang Weiping wrote “We can either choose to blame the gods and whine about our misfortune or we can step up to the plate and train the next generation of basketball talent.”

Zhang added that it is coaching and systematic problems which hinders China from developing and discovering potential talents like Yao.