National Basketball Association

Report: Yao may earn more minutes

Published Nov. 9, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Houston Rockets medical staff, encouraged by Yao Ming's progression after foot surgery, are looking into giving the Chinese superstar more minutes and allowing him to play in back-to-back games, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

The All-Star center has been limited by doctors to only 24 minutes a game in a bid to keep the 7ft 6in (2.29m) giant's left foot from breaking as it has done a number of times in his career — he missed the entire 2009-10 season with the injury.

Yao has also been prohibited from playing two games in two nights until January, but the report said the medical staff were re-evaluating.

Yao said it was especially important that he started playing back-to-back nights.

“The team needs to play consistently,” Yao said. “That means you need a consistent lineup.

"A guy who is a starting center being on and off, on and off, I think that’s not good for a team. That’s why I think playing back-to-back for me and for teammates is very important.”

The Rockets, expected to be a Western Conference contender, have struggled with injuries and have had an abysmal 1-5 start to the season.

Yao is averaging 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 21 minutes a game this campaign.