He arrived in Houston in 2002 as towering and iconic as the durable Great Wall of China, yet over the course of his NBA career Yao's image became increasingly fragile. After missing just two games due to injury in his first three years in the league, he was sidelined for 250 over the past six seasons.
2002年姚明来到休斯顿，高大形象犹如坚实的中国长城；然后随着他在职业道路上的推进，姚明给人的感觉却是越来越脆弱。在联盟的最初3年，他因为伤病而错过比赛的场次仅有2场，而在过去的6个赛季里他竟有250场比赛坐在板凳上。

Yao would have become a free agent at end of the current lockout and had spent months trying to rehabilitate his ankle for one more chance at playing. He has said his desire was to remain in Houston to play for the Rockets.
在最近的NBA停摆事件后，姚明成为了自由球员。此前数月他都在努力恢复脚踝伤势，希望能再次有机会上场比赛。他说过自己的愿望是留在休斯顿为火箭队征战。

However, he did not want to jeopardize his health for life after playing. Yao's parents were concerned enough about his welfare that they did not want him to attempt a return to the NBA after the broken bone in his foot that was suffered in the playoffs of May 2009.
然而，姚明不想因为比赛而危及自己一生的健康。2009年5月，当姚明在季后赛里骨裂后，其父母非常担心儿子的状况，不愿他尝试再次回到NBA赛场。

Following the birth of his daughter, Yao said: "I can only try so many times. I want to be able to run around and play with my child, not always wear a cast and use these crutches."
在女儿的出生，姚明曾说：“我只能尝试这么多次。我还想和孩子一起跑步，而不是绑着石膏、拄着拐杖。”