The first pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and a seven-time All-Star, Yao has missed all or parts of six consecutive seasons with bone injuries.
View full sizeYao MingBoston's Rajon Rondo sprained a left ankle and could be out a week or two.
But, by far, the biggest news was that Houston's Yao Ming has a stress fracture in his left ankle, which could threaten his career.
Five months ago, he said he might have to retire if he could not stay healthy, but now he's not so sure.
"I have been working hard to get back on the court, so today's news was very disappointing for me," Yao, 30, told Houston reporters. "I will need some time to speak with my doctors to figure out my options moving forward, but I want to thank all those who have expressed their support for me during this time."
Although this injury is on the inside of his ankle, and the injury that caused him to miss last season was on the top of his ankle, the two are related. The first pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and a seven-time All-Star has missed all or parts of six consecutive seasons with bone injuries. His Rockets contract expires after this season.
The injury problems are similar to those of former Cav Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Phoenix's Grant Hill, who required reconstructive surgery to solve their injury problems. Yao's previous surgeries might complicate that option.
The Rockets have not set a timetable for Yao's return.
Noah first suffered his injury Nov. 27 at Sacramento, and he hit the thumb again Dec. 4 against the Rockets. Noah started taping the thumb and wore a brace last week against Toronto. He also suffered sprained right index and middle fingers, but those won't require surgery.
"It's not what I want." Noah told reporters. "But I have to get back to playing at a high level. I'm tired of taking anti-inflammatory [pills] every time I play. I'm tired of not dribbling with my right hand. I'm going to miss playing. It's frustrating because I feel we have a chance to be really, really good. But I know in the long run, this is what needs to be done."
Noah also said he suffered the same injury and had the same surgery on his left hand during high school. Kirk Hinrich suffered the same injury in the 2008-09 season and missed nine weeks and 31 games.
Rondo's injury is less severe than the others, but the problem for the Celtics is that it's one of many. Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Delonte West and Kendrick Perkins also are hurt.
"The fact again is this is not one guy," Boston coach Doc Rivers told Boston reporters. "It's the cumulative that is hurting us. Let's say if Rondo was out and we had everybody else healthy, we'd be fine. Or if one of the other guys was out and we had everyone else healthy, we'd be fine. What hurts us is the bench now is just so thin."
It almost got thinner when Nate Robinson, Rondo's replacement, fell hard after jumping onto Paul Pierce in the wake of Pierce's game-winning shot in New York on Wednesday.
Asked if he had had to prohibit such actions, Rivers told reporters: "No, I'm just going to ask him not to miss. He can jump on their back, but he should actually hold on. His problem was that he missed."