Former NBA player Menk Bateer said Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets had no hurry to return to the court unless he fully recovered from injuries, according to local report on Wednesday.

Bateer, who played for Xinjiang Guanghui in the domestic league, was quoted as saying by the Oriental Sports Daily, "Yao was too tired to sustain such a bad injury on his foot. He is higher and heavier than most of the NBA players and has more duties during the off season. It's better for him to take a rest next season."

Yao called up the 2008-09 season when he was injured in the playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 10. He received a surgery to repair the broke bone in his left foot on July 21 and there is no timetable for his return.

The possibility of Yao's absence of the whole 2009-2010 set fear among Chinese basketball and more concerns of his career.

Bateer said: "Health is the start of everything. Take your time. Don't be hurry. There is nothing more important than your health. I don't want to see Yao on the court until he really feels ready for the game."

Bateer is the first Chinese player to play in the NBA and ended his career there with a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in2002-03 season.

The 34-year-old center will play for Shandong team in the upcoming 11th National Games next month in Shandong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2009)