Yao Ming Injured Again: NBA's Ultimate Story of What Could Have Been

Yao Ming—that's Chinese for basketball, isn't it?

It's been that way since this 7'6" Wonder of the World was drafted in 2002 by the Houston Rockets.

He was simply the Great Basketball Wall of China and no doubt has about 1.3 billion fans or whatever the current population of China is.

With the news that Yao will miss the entire NBA season now with a stress fracture in his left ankle, it is looking like the beginning of the end for the NBA's tallest player.

He missed the 09-10 season and now is gone again.

He's an international celebrity and one of the most famous athletes ever to make his way out of China—a land with enough people to populate 10 countries.

The sad part of all of this is that he's been a force in the NBA when he's enjoyed good health, which hasn't been that often. He's been injury-prone since he was drafted.

There were the really good seasons in 06-07 when he averaged 25 points and 9.4 rebounds. Then he put together another good season after that with 22 and 11 in 2007-08.

Even in those two years, he missed 61 games.

Blessed with size, cursed with no durability.

It will be the legacy of Yao Ming.

He'll be a free agent after this season and Houston may just move on. Will someone take a shot with him? Probably. It's hard to ignore a 7'6" guy in the middle, but at age 30, he's looking more washed up than counted on.

Throughout his career, that has marked much time in the training room, Ming has kept his constant smile, a remarkable attitude considering he carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders.

Everyone wanted him to succeed in a big way. There was more international exposure to be had for a league that could use it. He was China's most high-profile export since the Panda. He brought attention, curiosity and admirers for those who know him to be a man with great heart.

But last year was a year without Yao and this season is more of the same.

Soon, the talk will be of what could have been.

When he played, he played well.

But he just didn't get to play enough.

This latest tale of the MRI is hopefully not his final chapter, but it could well be that.

Yao Ming is not getting and younger and it's sad that at age 30, fans can only think about what might have been.