Yao Ming expects court date in March
HOUSTON, Texas: Yao Ming, the Chinese star center for the Houston Rockets, told the Houston Chronicle he expects to resume workouts with the team within two weeks and be back in games by early March.
Yao said tests on his broken right leg show that he is progressing on schedule but he plans to return a bit earlier than the March 1 comeback the National Basketball Association club had expected.
"You know me. I'm always faster than (expected)," Yao told the Chronicle.
Yao has been running on a treadmill upon which trainers can limit how much weight he places on the injured leg. He is also walking through jump shots and on-court movements.
"They are letting me do some jump shots, some practice but not real moves," he said. "I can walk on it, and do a lot more now."
Whenever Yao does make it back, the brace he is now using on the injured knee will be with him and it will remain for the remainder of the Rockets' season.
"I can get back to practice in 10 days to two weeks," Yao said. "It's hard to say (when I will play games again) - hopefully the beginning of March."
The Rockets, 32-18, rank fifth in the Western Conference and are chasing San Antonio for the final spot that confers home-court advantage in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
AFP
(China Daily 02/15/2007 page24)
