BEIJING (Reuters) ¨C China's Yao Ming thinks it will take at least one injury-free NBA season before he can even start thinking about regaining his best form for the Houston Rockets.

The seven-times All Star, who has been out of action since sustaining a left foot fracture in the Western Conference semi-finals against the LA Lakers in May 2009, is hoping to be fit in time for the Rockets' pre-season training camp.

"Talk about recovering my form is nothing but nonsense and will only be realized if I can get through the next season smoothly," he said in an interview in Thursday's China Daily.

"Then, you will see results after that season."

Yao, who exercised the player option in his contract with the Rockets last month to avoid free agency, said he was unsure what kind of contribution he would be able to make to the team's bid to win the NBA title next season.

"I have no idea if I can return the peak of my form," he added. "I have not been tested. I have not played competitive basketball since the injury even in training. I cannot answer if I will return to my best."

Yao is recovering from an injury which at least one doctor described as "career-threatening" and the 7ft-6in (2.28m) center has had to come to terms with the fact that his days on court could be ended at any moment with another injury.

"I know I will retire one day. My career will end sooner or later. Even if I can play until I am 36, I have to accept that fact," said Yao, who will turn 30 in September.

"The only problem is that 30 is the golden time for an athlete, but for me it's sudden death and I find it hard to accept that."

Still China's most popular and wealthiest sportsman despite a year on the sidelines, Yao said a return to his country's colors was also dependent on a long injury-free run.

"If my foot can survive the whole season and require no surgery in the summer, I will probably play for China again," he said.

"I think I can still help the Chinese team but, realistically speaking, I am not the future of China basketball due to my age. China needs to have a new generation of players to take the responsibility."