Considering Yao Ming a week ago was saying how he felt great and how he wanted to play but the team doctors didn’t think he was ready, it’s still a shock that he is done for the season and possibly his career. Either way it seems a bit premature that the Rockets have asked the NBA already for the disabled player exception on Yao Ming’s salary. Poor Yao, I hope for his sake this isn’t the end of his career…

The Houston Rockets have asked the NBA for a disabled player salary cap exception in the wake of Yao Ming’s season-ending ankle injury.

Yao has been out since Nov. 10 with a stress fracture in his left ankle. The seven-time All-Star, who missed all of last season following reconstructive foot surgery, appeared in only five games this year before getting hurt again.

The disabled player exception would allow the Rockets to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the midlevel exception (about $5.75 million).

A team spokesman confirmed the Rockets’ decision, a decision first reported by the Houston Chronicle. The NBA granted Portland a disabled player exception earlier this month after Greg Oden suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Read more details via AP on NBA.com