 Kunyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mushure mekupotsa mitambo miviri chete kubva pa246 mumakore ake matatu ekutanga ekutamba NBA, Yao akatsungirira nguva yakareba pane runyorwa rwusina basa mumwaka wake wechina mushure mekugadzira osteomyelitis pachigunwe chikuru chetsoka yake yekuruboshwe, uye kuvhiyiwa kwakaitwa pachigunwe musi waZvita 18, 2005. Pasinei nokurasikirwa nemitambo 21 paaipora, Yao zvakare aive nemavhoti akawanda evateveri kutanga 2006 NBA All-Star Game. 