Yao Ming won't pursue purchase of Rockets

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Hall of Fame center Yao Ming ended any speculation that he could be a part of a group that would seek to purchase the Rockets on Friday, issuing a statement through the Xinhua news agency saying his efforts will be devoted to his new position with the China Basketball Association.

Yao was elected on Thursday to be the Chairman of the Board of the company that runs the CBA. He had been named the president of the CBA in February.

"I have no time to consider anything else (including buying Houston Rockets)," Yao said according to the Xinhua report.

Yao retired from the Rockets in 2011 and has remained close to the organization. His Shanghai Sharks played the Rockets in a preseason game last season and he returned in February when his No. 11 was retired.

In his statement, Yao invited Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, the Rockets and Rockets rookie Zhou Qi to return to China for a game. Yao had remained so close with the team that when the Rockets drafted Zhou in 2016, Yao served as the interpreter on the call to tell Zhou the news.