HOUSTON — Rockets center Yao Ming’s broken left foot could be a “career-threatening” injury.

Dr. Tom Clanton, the Rockets’ team physician, told the Houston Chronicle yesterday that Yao’s injury “has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening.”

Yahoo! Sports first reported the Rockets and Yao’s representatives were concerned the 7-foot-6 Yao would never play again.