SHANGHAI (AP)—Wracked by injuries that curtailed his playing time in the NBA, Yao Ming called it quits on his basketball career Wednesday during a packed news conference in his hometown.

The Houston Rockets center and No. 1 draft pick in the 2002 NBA draft confirmed weeks of speculation about his retirement by opening with a simple statement: “I will formally end my career.”

He promised, though, that he wouldn’t stay far away from the sport that made him a household name in China. His impact expanded the NBA’s influence into the world’s most populous country, creating lucrative merchandise sales for the league and TV ratings that skyrocketed whenever the Rockets played.

The 7-foot-6 (2.29-meter) Yao played eight seasons in the NBA, but missed an estimated 250 regular-season games over the past six years.

"Today is an important day for me and holds a special meaning for both my basketball career and my future,” the 30-year-old Yao said in comments translated into English.

A third stress fracture in his left foot at the end of last year virtually took the decision out of his hands.

“My past six months were an agonizing wait. I had been thinking (about my future) over and over,” he said. “Today I am announcing a personal decision: ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening.”

Yao said he will return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more.

“My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it,” Yao said.

He also plans to continue his philanthropic work with his Yao Foundation.

Houston general manager Daryl  Morey attended the conference and had to get permission from the NBA to attend the formal farewell as the lockout prohibits contact with players.

Morey said he was tired from the long trip for the media conference but “I would be sorry if I wasn’t here.”

“It’s a big moment,” Morey said. “Yao had a sense of humor, a great attitude and sense of working together. I hope we can continue his culture in the NBA.”

NBA commissioner David Stern sent a statement describing Yao as a “transformational player and a testament to the globalization of our game.”

“His dominant play and endearing demeanor along with his extensive humanitarian efforts have made him an international fan favorite and provided an extraordinary bridge between basketball fans in the United States and China,” Stern said.

Yao’s wife, Ye Li, and their 14-month-old daughter, Yao Qinlei, and Yao’s parents, Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi, were in the room. Qinlei was dressed in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress. He later appeared with his family on the stage to the applause and cheers of the room.

He thanked his family, friends, coaches in China and in Houston and fellow competitors like Shaquille O’Neal(notes) “for making me a better player.”

"I will be always with you,” he added. “Thank-you.”

Despite news of Yao’s pending retirement being out for several weeks, the actual announcement was treated with the pomp that Yao’s appearance in China brings. Media were asked to sign up weeks in advance for the conference and show up two hours early Wednesday to pass through airport-style security checks.

The room was crammed at the back with dozens of television cameras and black-suited security men outnumbered the hundreds of media at various stages. China Central Television was to carry five continuous hours of Yao coverage beginning at 1 p.m. local time, including 90 minutes live from the media conference.

Yao’s contract expired after last season, and the Rockets said they were interested in re-signing him if he came back healthy. Yao said in April in China that his professional future depended on his recovery from a stress fracture in his left ankle.

<한글기사>

세계적 농구스타 야오밍, 공식 은퇴

(서울=연합뉴스) 최태용 기자 = 미국 프로농구(NBA)에서 활약했던 중국의 농구 스타 야오밍(31·229㎝)이 20일 고향인 중국 상하이에서 선수생활을 공식적으로 마감했다고 AP통신이 보도했다.

야오밍은 중국 프로농구팀인 상하이 샤크스에서 뛰다가 2002년 NBA 신인 드래프트를 통해 미국 무대로 진출한 뒤 휴스턴 로키츠에서 선수생활을 했다.

여덟 시즌 동안 486경기에 출전해 평균 19점, 리바운드 9.2개를 기록한 야오밍은 왼쪽 발목의 피로골절 때문에 지난 시즌에는 5경기 출전에 그치는 등 부진을 겪다가 결국 은퇴하는 쪽으로 진로를 정했다.

중국 언론 보도에 따르면 야오밍은 NBA에서 2002년 시즌부터 9년간 선수생활을 하면서 3천418억원의 소득을 올렸다.

야오밍은 이날 상하이 푸둥의 그랜드상하이호텔에서 한 은퇴 기자회견에서 "부상 때문에 현역에서 물러나기로 마음먹었다"며 "선수 생활을 마감하지만 다른 문이 열려 있다"고 말했다.

야오밍은 전 소속팀인 상하이 샤크스에서 단장을 맡을 것으로 알려졌다.

자신이 세운 '야오 재단'을 이끌며 사회활동도 계속할 예정이다.

이날 은퇴 회견에는 전 세계 100여 매체의 취재진이 몰려들어 야오밍의 인기를 실감케 했다.

또 휴스턴 구단의 대릴 모레이 단장이 참석해 눈길을 끌었다.

선수 노조와의 단체협상 결렬로 직장폐쇄에 들어간 NBA는 구단 관계자와 선수의 접촉을 금지했지만, 이 행사에 한해서는 휴스턴 단장의 참석을 허용했다.

데이비드 스턴 NBA 커미셔너는 성명을 통해 야오밍의 업적을 높이 평가했다.

검은색 정장을 차려입은 야오밍은 농구선수 출신인 아내 예리와 14개월 된 딸과 함께 기자회견장에 나타나 팬들의 성원에 고마움을 표시했다.

중국 국영 CCTV는 이날 4시간 동안 야오밍과 관련한 특별 프로그램을 방송하고 기자회견을 생중계했다.