Basketball is a rigorous sport that forces players to be in top shape. It involves a lot of physicality, training, and a tremendous amount of effort especially in the NBA. Throughout NBA history, we’ve seen various players immortalize themselves as the best to ever play the sport. With their out-of-this world abilities, it is so easy to forget that they are humans too. Like normal human beings, players eat, sleep, drink, and age too. And more importantly, they get sick too. In this post, we'll be looking at some of the most terrifying NBA health scares in league history.
Aside from injuries that come with playing basketball, it isn’t a surprise that health concerns are also a factor that some of the best players are forced to hang up their sneakers. Of course basketball greatness is something they would love to achieve in their careers, but health should always be any player’s number one priority. Unfortunately, this is will always be a heartbreaking decision.
Let’s take a look at five NBA health scares.
LaMarcus Aldridge
It wasn’t long ago that LaMarcus Aldridge became one of the biggest pickups by the already stacked Brooklyn Nets from the buyout market. Furthermore, he even averaged 12.8 points and 4.8 boards per game. With his acquisition, Aldridge was poised to finally have a clear shot at winning a championship late in his career, given that he had teammates in Blake Griffin, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.
Unfortunately, Aldridge encountered a heart scare during April 10, which would be the last game he ever played in the league. The cardiac incident that Aldridge suffered was due to an irregular heartbeat. According to the seven time All-Star, it was one of the scariest moments of his life.
Based on the tweet of The Athletic and Stadium reporter Shams Charamia, Aldridge said “Though I’m better now, what I felt with my heart that night was still one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced.”
As a result, the newly acquired Nets big man shocked the world by announcing his retirement. It is heartbreaking to see Aldridge to walk away from the game, at the time when he could’ve been a big help to Brooklyn’s championship push this year and a potential reward for his decorated NBA career. But nevertheless, a serious issue concerning the heart should always be taken seriously.
With his retirement, Aldridge certainly deserves all the love for what he has contributed to the game. In 16 seasons, Aldridge was a reliable power forward who torched opponents inside and outside the paint. Furthermore he garnered seven All-Star appearances and made it to five All-NBA Teams.
Isaiah Austin
Nothing is more painful than giving up your dream due to a health condition, especially when it hasn't even started yet. Coming out of Baylor, Isaiah Austin looked like a big man that boasted with a lot of potential. Standing at 7’1, Austin averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in his two year college career. Because of this, he was projected to be a first round prospect during the 2014 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, the Baylor standout was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition that involves an enlarged artery that could potentially tear especially when engaging in physical activities. To prevent any form of danger to his health, Adam Silver and league officials medically barred teams from getting the services of the prized big man. To honor Austin despite his health issue, Silver announced Austin as a special draft pick during the 2014 NBA Draft. Furthermore, Silver also offered a job position in the NBA to the Baylor standout, once Austin finishes his undergraduate degree.
But despite being barred from playing in the NBA, Austin hasn’t given up his love for basketball. The 7’1 center received his medical clearance and has taken his talents overseas by suiting up for professional teams in Serbia, Philippines, China, Lebanon, and Mexico. Although this seems to be a step towards Austin finally achieving his dream, unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like any NBA team would be willing to risk his health anytime soon.
Chris Bosh
We all knew about Chris Bosh when he starred for the Toronto Raptors as a reliable stretch big man. He then took his talents to South Beach, where he became one-third of the Big Three that also had superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. As we all know, Bosh and the Big Three would become two time NBA champions with the Miami Heat. Unfortunately, despite his crucial jumpers and rebounds, the 6’11 big man received the least credit among the three stars given that he was the third option. Although it looked like things were finally going to favor him with James’ exit from Miami and the style of play favoring undersized and skilled stretch bigs, unfortunately, Bosh would go down with blood clot issues.
Bosh was diagnosed multiple blood clots in his lungs that blocked arteries in his lungs which could cause serious complications. It is the same condition that caused the death of former basketball players Jerome Kersey, Darryl Dawkins, and Moses Malone. But despite the life-threatening diagnosis, two time NBA champ would make several attempts to return to the court despite a grueling recovery process.
Although Bosh finally made his way back to the court at the start of the 2015-2016 season, where he even put up a decent 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, another blood clot was discovered in the Heat star’s leg right around the All-Star break. As we all know, Bosh pulled out all the stops to try to get himself back in the court. He tried seeking multiple doctors that would clear his path back to the game.
But despite this, the Heat organization didn’t want to risk the health of their big man. As a result, Bosh was released from the roster and paid him his remaining salary. The former Raptors star eventually announced his retirement in 2019. In his 13 year career, Bosh nabbed two NBA championships, 11 All-Star honors, and an All-NBA Team selection.
Alonzo Mourning
Equipped with a post game and a knack for defense, Alonzo Mourning was one of the best centers of his time. In fact, during his peak years, Mourning earned seven All-Star selections. Unfortunately, the 6’10 suffered a career threatening disease in 2000, specifically focal segmental glomuerulosclerosis. His condition eventually took a turn for the worse, as he was sidelined for the entire 2002-2003 season due to a kidney transplant.
Although Mourning eventually returned to the active lineup after his absence, he was never the same again. The seven time All-Star saw his numbers drop and was relegated as a back-up big man instead. Fortunately, however, Mourning was still able to win a NBA championship with the Heat in 2006 with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal’s leadership.
Two seasons later, Mourning would choose to finally walk away from the game he loves. With complications from his kidney alongside a serious leg injury, Mourning would announce his retirement as he wanted to enjoy the rest of his life comfortably.
Based on an article in ESPN, Mourning said “People would come up to me and they would ask me ‘How are you doing? How is your heath?’ It kind of struck a chord. I knew that’s what it’s all about – my health. God willing I’ll be able to live another 40 or 50 years, and I want to do it in a comfortable state. Right now I’m there.”
Aside from his seven All-Star appearances and a NBA championship, the 7’1 center was a two time league leader in blocks. Mourning also earned two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two All-NBA team and All-Defensive team selections in his decorated 15 year NBA career.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is considered as one of the best players to ever play the game. Despite being considered a big man during his time, Magic was simply a cut above the rest due to his ability to play the guard position which was uncommon for his size. The Hall of Famer was known for electrifying crowds in Staples Center as part of the Showtime Lakers with his magical passes and athletic moves on the court. Unfortunately, the world stopped when Johnson publicly announced his retirement from basketball after contracting HIV.
Although the risk of transmitting HIV in a basketball court is next to impossible, there were a lot of misinformation about the disease back then including the fact that it was known as a death sentence. As a result, Johnson announced his retirement as soon as he was diagnosed with the illness.
In his retirement speech, Johnson said “And I guess now I get to enjoy some of the other sides of living…that because of the season, the long practices and so on. I just want to say that I'm going to miss playing. And I will now become a spokesman for the HIV virus because I want people — young people to realize that they can practice safe sex. And you know sometimes you're a little naive about it and you think it could never happen to you. You only thought it could happen to, you know, other people and so on and all. And it has happened, but I'm going to deal with it and my life will go on.”
Fortunately, Johnson was given one of the greatest sendoffs in sports history. The 6’9 guard attempted a come back as he participated in the 1992 All-Star Game and took home MVP honors by registering 25 points and nine assists. Furthermore, he was also part of the dominant 1992 Dream Team that brought home the gold medal for Team USA in the Barcelona Olympics. Aside from this, Johnson suited up for one last season in 1995-1996 before making his final retirement as a basketball player.
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