Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge has announced his retirement from the NBA with immediate effect.
Explained on his Twitter account, Aldridge recently suffered an irregular heartbeat during and then after an NBA game. This was his last appearance in the NBA. Brooklyn helped Aldridge getting checked out at the hospital.
This scare led to Aldridge re-evaluating his basketball life. Deep into his thirties, he has decided it’s time to move on from playing.
Aldridge said, “Though I’m better now, what I felt with my heart that night was still one of the scariest things I’ve experienced… For 15 years, I’ve put basketball first and now, it’s time to put my health and family first.”
It’s a touching statement from the former All-Star. This is unquestionably a sad ending to what could be a Hall of Fame career, and cuts short a season in which Aldridge could have finally won a ring.
As we would expect, the Nets have been incredibly supportive of Aldridge throughout.
General manager Sean Marks said, “The Nets organization fully supports LaMarcus’ decision, and while we value what he has brought to our team, his health and well being are far more important than the game of basketball.”
Aldridge retirement
This came as a surprise to NBA fans worldwide. Aldridge had missed a couple of games with a ‘non-COVID illness’, but he was expected to play a role for the Nets down the stretch, having rediscovered his game since joining Brooklyn.
This is a blow for the Nets, of course. That’s an irrelevance in circumstances like this, though.
This is a sad ending to Aldridge’s career, but ultimately the right decision to put his health ahead of his NBA future.
A seven-time All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection, LaMarcus Aldridge had a spectacular NBA career. Good luck to him in whatever comes next – he retires as the 47th-highest scorer in NBA history and one of the best power forwards of the 21st century.
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