Yao to make return to court next October in Hidalgo

HIDALGO – Assuming his rehab goes as planned, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will get his first chance to test out his surgically-repaired foot for the first time at State Farm Arena.

The Rockets and Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Wednesday that the Rockets are scheduled to play their first exhibition for next season against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 5 in Hidalgo.

Yao and Rockets CEO Tad Brown were in the Valley to announce details of the exhibition. In addition, the Rockets will hold training camp in the McAllen area beginning Oct. 3.

“We are going to be here for a long time,” Brown said. “And we think the relationship with the (Valley) fans is going to be better.”

Details will be announced at a later date.

“So far, so good,” Yao said Wednesday of the healing process before the Vipers-Austin Toros game at State Farm Arena. “It’s been boring not playing basketball all year. Sometimes, your heart is a little anxious when you see your team playing on TV or sitting with them on the bench.” Yao added that he’s on schedule to be ready for the start of training camp.

“I’m looking forward to the summer when I can get back into shape,” Yao said.

The possibly of playing against Dwight Howard should offer Yao a quick test of where he stands.

“He’s just getting better and better every year,” Yao said. “Every year I play against him, he has more experience and when he comes back (each year), it seems like he’s two times stronger.”

Yao is missing this season after having surgery on his broken left foot last July. He is expected to be back for the 2010-11 season. The exhibition in Hidalgo would be the first chance he gets to play against NBA competition since May when he sustained the injury during the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.