Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming’s broken left foot could be a “career-threatening” injury. Dr Tom Clanton, the Houston Rockets’ team physician, said on Monday that Yao’s injury “has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening.”

Yao suffered a hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone late in a May 8 playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team said last week the injury hasn’t healed and he was out indefinitely. Yao played in 77 regular-season games in 2008-09, his most injury-free year since 2004-05, when he played in 80. Before last season, Yao missed chunks of previous three seasons with leg and foot injuries.

The Rockets said he would miss only 8-12 weeks. But last week, the team said Yao would undergo additional tests and consult with other doctors to map out a new course of treatment. Yao is due to make over $16 million next season with a player option for 2010-11 that would pay him over $17 million.