Yao Ming's nail from his left big toe was removed on Monday, which will force him to miss the beginning of the preseason.

Yao, who has had problems with his toenails throughout his NBA career, is expected to be sidelined seven to 10 days because of his latest toe injury.

The center bruised his left big toe during Wednesday's training camp session in Austin and opted to have the toenail removed after consulting with the team's physician, Dr. Thomas Clanton, on Monday.

"He doesn't remember getting stepped on and I don't think that was the case," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. "I think it was just that the toe ran into the end of the shoe repetively. We had a doctor see him in Austin and he saw Dr. Clanton on (Monday morning). Everyone thought the best thing to do was to remove the nail."