?Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, of China, looks up against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, California, April 3, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has granted Houston Rockets an injury exception for Yao Ming, suggesting the All-star center will most probably miss next season.

"I am aware of the actions the Rockets have taken and understand the reasons that they took them," Yao Ming told Xinhua. "My focus is on selecting the best treatment option for my injured foot and committing myself to do what I can to ensure a complete recovery."

"I am optimistic about the future and I will return to playing basketball when my foot has fully healed," he added.

The Rockets applied for a disabled player exception from the NBA a few weeks ago, betting that the Chinese center will miss next season with a hairline fracture in his left foot.

The NBA agreed that Yao's return is unlikely, freeing up about 5.7 million US dollars that the Rockets used to sign free agent Trevor Ariza from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Yao sustained the injury in a May 8 playoff game against the Lakers. The Rockets said last week that the injury has not healed and he was out indefinitely.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)