Beijing ( CNN ) -- Yao Ming fans in China reacted with shock and disbelief when they learned from U.S. media reports Friday night that their basketball idol has decided to retire . Fans took to the Internet Friday to express their feelings about the basketball star , who plays with the Houston Rockets in the NBA . `` I did not expect his retirement to come so soon ! '' said a Netizen called Yilubaijiahei in a Sina Weibo microblog . What does retirement mean for fans ? Another person who went by the name Tuzitouda in another tweet wrote : `` I feel a little bit of sadness . If Big Yao retires , it is not only the end of an era , but also the end of my NBA-syndrome including those seasons when Yao played with the Rockets . '' Major news portals in China put the news on their front pages . `` The U.S. media say Yao has formally decided to retire , Chinese superstar says goodbye to NBA , '' reads the headline of Tencent Sports . But Sina Sports , a section of Sina . com , one of China 's biggest web portals , says its reporter reached Zhang Mingji soon after hearing the media reports . Zhang , who is one of Yao 's agents , said Yao did not announce his retirement and did not inform the NBA and the Houston Rockets that he was doing so , as reported by the U.S. media . Yao 's agent told CNN that he is giving a news conference in Shanghai on July 20 to talk about `` his future career plans . '' Chinese sports writers and fans believe that Yao 's retirement , of course , will happen sooner or later , although they hope it will be later . They hope the superstar could still play not only in the NBA but for the Chinese national team in the London Olympics next year . The Shanghai native , who stands at 7-feet , 6-inches , was the NBA 's top overall draft in 2002 , when he was signed by Houston Rockets . He is one of the most successful overseas players in the league . Voted an All-Star player eight times , Yao has chalked up a career average of 19 points , 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks . His field-goal percentage was 52.4 . In recent years , however , he struggled with foot and ankle injuries . He missed the 2009-2010 season . After playing only five games , he missed that last season , when he suffered a stress fracture on his left ankle . Yao has been undergoing treatment and training in recent months , but doubts about whether he could make a comeback persists . When asked about his future prospects , Yao himself was reticent . In an interview with a CCTV sportscaster last month , Yao said : `` I do n't know if I would join some champion team in the future . I do n't even know if I can play again . '' Yao revealed that his left ankle injury was far from healed . `` Walking or jogging is okay ... but I need to get 80 percent of my strength back to play . I have got only 30 percent at most now . '' Last month , Yao brought his one-year-old daughter Amy to China for the first time since her birth in the United States . Yao said Amy is one incentive for him to return to the NBA . Yao told CCTV : `` I wish she could watch me play and even win a championship , not only see through video highlights how her dad played before . She is definitely a big motivation for me to continue my role as a player , although my foot still needs a lot of treatment to meet the demands of the game . '' The 30-year-old Yao sounded mellow about this future in NBA . `` A championship ring has become not so important in my plans , '' he said in the interview . `` My main thought for the next 10 years is to look after my family and continue my community activities . '' The basketball superstar has set up the Yao Ming Foundation which he uses to attract donations and raise funds for charity , including building schools and supporting education . He has also joined campaigns to curb environmental degradation and promote animal rights , including multi-media campaign to curb consumption of shark 's fins , which are considered a gourmet delicacy in China and Asia . If Yao retires , he would leave behind giant footprints in world of basketball and business . He helped expand the popularity of sports globally and specially in China . Yao is the icon of China 's basketball . He was the pillar of the national men 's team for many years , playing in world championships and the Olympics . He is also China 's goodwill ambassador , the most recognizable face of China overseas . Thanks to Yao , the NBA has been successful in China . NBA games are televised in many TV and cable channels through the season . NBA stars have a big following in the mainland . Some like Jason Kidd and Shane Battier , like Yao , make a lot of money here from endorsing basketball sneakers and sports apparels produced by local companies , like Li Ning and PEAK . Yao Ming currently endorses Chinese brands such as China Unicom CDMA and China Life Insurance , as well as global brands such as Pepsi , Gatorade sports drinks , Visa , McDonald 's and Apple computers .
NEW : Yao 's agent tells CNN he will hold news conference on July 20 to discuss his future . TL;DR NBA star Yao Ming has been suspended for the rest of this season and fined $50,000 by Chinese basketball federation. One Chinese media outlet says Yao did not announce his retirement . The 30-year-old basketball player has been plagued with injuries in recent years .