NBA All-Star center Yao Ming is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, a stunning blow to the surging Houston Rockets.

General manager Daryl Morey, who made the announcement, says Yao Ming regrets being injured when the Rockets are doing so well, and says he will actively look for treatment options.

Yao Ming says apart from the fact that he is done with the NBA this season, he may also miss out on the upcoming Olympic Games.

"If I cannot play in the Olympics for my country this time, it will be the biggest loss in my career to right now."

No specific event contributed to the injury, which is the result of an accumulation of stresses on the bone. Tom Clanton, the Rockets team doctor, says he is not sure when Yao Ming will be able to play again, but he expresses optimism on the center's chance at the Beijing Olympics.