The Houston Rockets center said his injured left foot is improving, but he is still wearing a protective boot and is unsure when he'll resume basketball drills.

Yao broke his left foot April 10 in a game against Utah and sat out the final four games of the season. He had surgery that week to repair the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot.

"It's getting better every day," Yao told Houston television station KRIV. "Actually, I can walk without crutches. I get treatment every day, upper body lifting and some (riding) bike."

Yao's agent has said he hopes the 7-foot-6 center can be back on the court in June and prepared to play for China in this summer's world championships.

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