When asked about 2010, Yao, 28, initially joked about his plans, saying he looked forward only to “an off summer, to not play any basketball.”
When asked if he would opt out, he said, “I will retire.”
He did finally offer that he would like to play his entire career only with the Rockets. But he did maintain the out that he would remain with the Rockets if he believes the team can contend for a championship.
“I’ve played for this team for seven years,” Yao said. “It’s hard to just drop it and switch to another one and start over. I want a full career and I feel like the Rockets are like home. Why change?”
...
“About 2010, that’s when I am 30 years old,” Yao said. “I tell you what happened when my parents are 30 years old. When my dad was 30 years old, he was already two years after he retired and I was already 1 year old. And my mom was coaching when she was 30 years old.
“I feel that. I obviously played longer than them, plus, well, think about it.”
