"Finally, Yao Ming had enough. And a career unlike any other came to an end.

Nearly a decade spent carrying the weight of expectations and demands could not hold him down, but with little confidence he could play without more of the injuries that had wrecked the second half of his career, Yao has told the Rockets he plans to retire, several individuals familiar with the decision confirmed Friday.

Yao, who became the face of China's new outreach to the West and the NBA's explosive growth in China, reversed his previous intention to try one more comeback, concerned that further stress injuries would hamper him long after his playing career.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league "has not received official notification of his retirement," preventing Rockets officials from commenting during the NBA lockouts. Yahoo! Sports initially reported Yao decision Friday. Yao did not return messages.

An eight-time All-Star, his impact as a global icon, national treasure and hope of a franchise went far beyond his role on the court.

"Michael Jackson was before my time. Elvis (Presley) was before my time," said Rockets co-captain Chuck Hayes, Yao's longest-tenured teammate. "But if I had to guess, it was like being around Yao Ming.

"He was big. Everyone wanted to see him. He graced us with his presence in the NBA. It was unbelievable. It was great."

Yao, 30, played in just five games the past two seasons, missing 250 games over the past six seasons with bone injuries, most recently a stress fracture in his left ankle suffered Nov. 10 in Washington.

He averaged 19 points and 9.3 rebounds in his career, increasing his scoring average in each of his first five seasons and missing just two games in his first three seasons. He averaged a career-best 25 points in 2006-07.

"People forget how great he was," said ABC/ESPN announcer Jeff Van Gundy, who coached Yao for four seasons with the Rockets. "Then you add his humor, wit and his combination of skill and will. People will want to point finger of blame for his injuries. I choose not to do. It was confluence of unfortunate events that let him down. I remember how great he was. I remember some of those dominating performances.""