Injury plagued Yao Ming finds support from Dwight Howard
After being showered with sympathetic messages from his coach, team-mates and nearly everyone in Houston, Yao Ming has found support from the unlikeliest of places.
Hours before heading to Ming’s backyard, Orlando Magic’s all-star centre Dwight Howard suggested that the Chinese superstar might have hurried a little too much onto the court, and sincerely hoped that the phenomenal centre makes his way back into the NBA
soon.
"I just want him to get healthy - that's it," Howard said after the Magic's morning shoot around in preparation for their Friday night match up with the Rockets. "I think a lot of people try to pressure him to get back as soon as possible. Once you're away
from the game for a while, you always try to rush and get back. And I think that's what he did."
The 25-year-old Howard, famously known as ‘The Daily Double’, racking up a 388th double-double since he entered the league in 2004-05, has himself avoided major injury problems in his seven seasons in the NBA. The imposing 6ft 11in centre, implied that people
often misinterpret the stresses and tribulations that the body of an NBA player goes through.
"It's tough. He's 7-foot-5 and, you know, he weights a lot," Howard said. "And it takes a toll on your ankle, your knees and your feet. And just as well as anybody else who plays basketball for a long time, you have to protect your knees, your feet and your
ankles. I just hope he gets better. That's it. I love playing against him. He's a great person. So, I just hope he gets better."
The Chinese stalwart Yao, who is actually 7ft 6in and weighs about 310 pounds, underwent a career threatening surgery on Thursday; a move that will keep him out of action for at least 10 months.
At 30 years of age, Yao is no stranger to injuries. Yao’s romance with injuries dates almost as far back as his career, mostly to his left foot and ankle. The dazzling centre has missed all or parts of six consecutive seasons with bone injuries.
Yao was on the sidelines all of last season as he recovered from foot surgery, and the Houston faithful were hoping that he could boost their season credentials this time around. The Chinese superstar though, was able to showcase his talents for just five
games this season, and that too with a 24-minute time string attached.
Calamity struck the seven-time all-star, when an ankle injury against the Washington Wizards in November, turned out to be a stress fracture. To make matters worse, it occurred in a different bone than the one he had been healing all of last season.
Team doctor Tom Clanton performed the procedure in Houston, and Yao is not expected to be able to start rehabilitation at least for three to four months, due to the pins that are inserted to strengthen the cracked area.
Tags: