The expected retirement of Chinese basketball star Yao Ming risks diminishing the NBA's once-burgeoning popularity in China, with many local fans saying they would no longer watch NBA games.

The prospect of Yao's retirement from the game comes at an already difficult time for the NBA, with the 2011-12 season in jeopardy due to a dispute between teams and the players' union.

In an online poll, 57 percent of respondents said they would stop watching the NBA if Yao retired.

The 2.25 meter center is expected to announce at a news conference scheduled for July 20 that he is retiring from the NBA after nine seasons. He boosted the popularity of the basketball league in China and throughout Asia, raising merchandise sales and TV ratings for games after the Houston Rockets made him the top overall pick in the 2002 draft.

But Yao, who turns 31 in September, has been plagued by leg and foot injuries, missing 250 regular games over the past six seasons.

"He is one of the most influential people in today's society - especially to those born in the 80s," said Ren Bo, a 25-year-old sports trainer.

"It's probably going to be a while until we see another Yao Ming."

Yahoo! Sports first reported that Yao was retiring after deciding the risk of another injury and subsequent rehabilitation was too great.

The news upset fans in China, where he has been praised as a role model for the past decade.

"It is Yao Ming who makes the kids in China like basketball and it's also Yao Ming who makes the kids know how a real professional basketball player should be," said Xu Jicheng, a longtime basketball commentator.

"I'm not thrilled about his retirement, but I will still support him. Millions of Chinese still idolize him," said 24-year-old Guo Ju Fei, a business owner.

Some online comments conveyed sadness that his retirement would mean the end of a great era and that they would not get to see him at the 2012 London Olympics. There was also disappointment that injuries had kept him from reaching his peak.

"I still haven't recovered from the fact that Yao is retiring. The feeling is worse than being dumped," was one online comment.

Many others expressed gratitude to the player for being a Chinese icon and an athlete they could be proud of.