Yao Ming: Honestly speaking, I do feel a bit strange, at least for today. It’s been some time now. I have been injured and away from the team for 9 weeks now. Today is my first road trip with my teammates, and (I guess) to feel strange is somewhat normal.

TITAN: So are you too accustomed to the disciplined and methodological life during your injury?

Yao Ming: Yeah life has been quite disciplined and methodological for the past months. Get up early every morning, arrive at the training hall around 9:00 or 9:30am, train and exercise for a few hours, go home, eat lunch, watch video, play computer games then go to bed. And the next day, it is the same routine all over again. Now, traveling with the team, everything becomes irregular. But irregularity was once the norm. So once you take a more stabilized and disciplined life, and suddenly it is changed, you must try to readapt to the irregular life again. But this is good.

TITAN: So do you think you will need long time to readapt to this strange and unfamiliar feeling?

Yao Ming: Not really. I have led such irregular life all these years. I don’t think I need several days to be able to readapt and be like what it used to be previously.

TITAN: Is it any help just to be with the team as far as your returning to court is concerned?

Yao Ming: It is mainly about the thought preparation. Just let oneself be psychologically prepared, return to the same environment, become a part of this team again. Going through the same matters with everybody else will help to gel and rebuild that tacit understanding and chemistry with the teammates. This is totally different when compared to just lying on your sick bed and watching your team compete from TV. Well, you’re watching your teammates compete, but the mood was very relaxed, and some very trivial matters would have diverted your attention. But now that you are part of this collective, and that cord in your head will start to pull taut. So while I am preparing my body for my return, I also need to prepare for my return mentally.

TITAN: So recently you have been taking part in the team practice and some of those walkthroughs. Have there been alot of changes in the tactics/set plays during your 2 months’ absence?

Yao Ming: Not that much really. I should say some links here and there. While I was away, they made some changes here and there, and those were nice changes so far. I have to grasp these changes as soon as possible. Well, I already felt it in the team practice these 2 days. I would run and collide into my teammates. We must try to find the solution to these problems.

TITAN: So right after you return, will the team tactics be returning to as before (i.e. prior to your injury), or as you’ve said, you need to make adjustment to readapt to it?

Yao Ming: Well, it has to be the head coach’s call. In any case, we just need synchronization. As a matter fact, before I was injured, the tactics were not the same with me on the court or without me on the court. That kind of tactical difference is so marginal just like when the team is with me or without me. Therefore I really don’t think there is anything too significant, and surely there won’t be any issue about tactic re-adaptation.

TITAN: So what are your worries?

Yao Ming: Well, I think it will depend on actual competition situations. Regardless of what type of changes, the important thing is we can put the ball into the basket. The result is all-important. I am fine (with any kind of changes in tactics) as long as this team wins.

TITAN: So when can you officially resume team practice, I refer to playing contact basketball during team practice?

Yao Ming: I am not too sure. The doctors have yet to nod (to give the greenlight). I must listen to the experts. They said I will have to wait for 10 days to 2 weeks.

TITAN: You should know and understand your body well. According to the current progress of your rehab, what is your gut feel that you can start?

Yao Ming: If I can have my way, then conservatively, I would say 10 days. I certainly wish the quicker the better. It will be best if I can restart contact basketball in team practice within another week. On such issue, the player is much more anxious than the doctors. Both have different perspectives and standpoints. I just could not stand it any longer, having to sit at home and watch the team play.

TITAN: So assume you can resume playing contact basketball in team practice, how long will it take for you to return to court to play (in official competition)?

Yao Ming: Well, should also be a week to 10 days. Hey, what is the date today?

TITAN: Today? February 23rd.

Yao Ming: Oh Oh Oh…. (lower his head, calculating the dates) well, it is difficult to fix on a date. Just say the beginning of March. The quicker, the better.

TITAN: Well perhaps playing the Boston Celtics away on March 7 (March 8 Beijing standard time) will be a great opportunity to return. Many NBA stars purposely choose a weaker opponent for their return from injury, such that they can ease their way back into competition. If you do not play well in your first game upon return to court, it might affect your confidence, as well as your teammates’ confidence in you.

Yao Ming: Well, that is what other thinks. That is not me. I just carry on my rehabilitation training assiduously, and when I think I am ready, I will return and play. I will not deliberately choose my opponents. Someone brought this up with me earlier, too. But I will never think this way. Worst come to worst, even if I play sub-par on the first game (of my return from injury), the sky will not crumple. I remembered I was playing so-so in my first game with Memphis Grizzlies when I returned from my injury last season; I scored 15 points/8 rebounds, and we lost 86 ~ 77. But then what happened? Everyone then saw my performance. I know who I am and what I am; the others also know who I am and what I am, and it will not be changed just because of one game. So I really don’t care which team I am facing upon my return. If San Antonio Spurs? If Phoenix Suns? Then let it be.

TITAN: So have you included any new drills into your rehab lately?

Yao Ming: Compared to previous, nothing new. Just focus on my strength and conditioning and shoot-practicing alternatively. Just maintain 6 hours training time daily as far as possible.

TITAN: How is your body feeling?

Yao Ming: To be frank, it is very bad, particularly in the recent strength and conditioning training. Real bad.

TITAN: What is your weight now?

Yao Ming: 305 pounds (approximately 137 kilograms); I have to slim down another 5 pounds; and when it comes the time for my return to competition, another 5 pounds. It is important that I maintain my weight around 295 pounds (i.e. 133 kilograms) during the season. That is my optimal weight.

TITAN: What percentage are you back to your normal state?

Yao Ming: Some 30 to 40 percent. But this is not my first time to rehabilitate from my injuries. I had that experience. Sometimes, what you felt on you body the first day is completely changed the second day. So all I need to do now is focus on my rehabilitation, and my training will take care of everything else, and my condition will be returning to me.

TITAN: (pointing to the brace supporter that was wrapped around his knee/leg), So you have to wear this “thing” the rest of this season? How heavy is it?

Yao Ming: Actually not really heavy. About 1.5 pounds. But it is extremely uncomfortable to play a basketball game wearing this. Every time when you make a move, it seemed something is blocking and hindering you. It always makes you aware that you’re wearing this “thing.” I still remembered I had to wear an arm brace supporter on my left arm two seasons ago. Even though it was on my left arm, I thought it already affected my shooting. Now this feeling of this knee brace supporter is the same. I just feel uncomfortable as it just does not belong to my body. But there is nothing I can do about this. This thing will have to accompany me for the rest of this season. I have to find ways to get adapted to it. The sooner, the better.

TITAN: Do you think you are too anxious about your rehab and your return? Your coaches/personal trainers all said you have been doing an excellent job already.