Yao Ming, one of the seminal figures in the globalization of the NBA, has decided to retire after eight injury-plagued seasons with the Houston Rockets, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Yao, who missed all but five games of the 2010-11 season, hasn’t been able to fully recover from a tendon strain in his left leg. The veteran center informed the Rockets, the league office in New York, and NBA China of his decision to leave the game within the past 48 hours, sources said.

Yao was set to become a free agent once the league’s lockout ends.