"Yao Ming is keeping fans in suspense regarding his career plans for a few more days.

The 30-year-old Chinese basketball star was rumored to have decided to retire last week, with Yahoo Sports, citing NBA league sources, reporting that the 7-foot-6-inch center was calling it quits after nine seasons.

But Yao himself has remained mum on the subject, saying only that he will hold a news conference on July 20 in Shanghai to announce his plans.

His agent, John Huizenga, declined to confirm the retirement report.

"I'm not in a position to do that," Huizenga told the Associated Press. "He's going to have a press conference on July 20. What that says is that's the time Yao is going to make a statement, and I don't think it's appropriate for me to say anything before he does."

Retirement might disappoint Yao's fans, but it wouldn't surprise many—Yao played only five games for the Houston Rockets last season, and has missed 250 regular season games over the past six seasons. The eight-time all-star was a difficult matchup for all but the toughest NBA centers, but in the end his greatest opponent may prove to have been his own body."