China's star basketballer Yao Ming said Tuesday that he has picked up his player option for next season, the last year of his five-year contract.

The 2.26-meter, All-Star center sat out last season following reconstructive foot surgery.

Yao said he's resumed basketball activities and should be 100 percent when training camp begins.

If he had turned down the player option, Yao would've become an unrestricted free agent on Thursday. He is due to make 17.7 million U.S. dollars next season.

The Houston Rockets selected Yao with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft.