Brooklyn Nets big man LaMarcus Aldridge is retiring from the NBA at the age of 35 after dealing with an irregular heartbeat in the last game he played. While Aldridge is okay now, he made the tough choice to walk away from the game in order to put his “health and family first.”
Aldridge released this statement on the decision:
— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) April 15, 2021
Aldridge was diagnosed with a heart issue early in his career but still went on to be an incredible player:
LaMarcus Aldridge retires after issues with an irregular heartbeat. Aldridge has previously been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome and undergone multiple ablation procedures since the 2006-07 season. Best wishes to Aldridge in his life after basketball.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) April 15, 2021
LaMarcus Aldridge had just recently signed with the Nets after getting bought out by the San Antonio Spurs. While nowhere near the player he once was, Brooklyn was hoping he would provide frontcourt depth for that championship push. The 35-year-old played five games with the Nets, averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.0 minutes per game.
Aldridge was the second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls and then immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent the first nine seasons of his career and blossomed into a star.
Aldridge formed quite the potent duo with Damian Lillard when the guard came aboard in 2012. The big man made four consecutive All-Star Games in Portland before moving on to the San Antonio Spurs in 2015.
The big man made three more All-Star games with the Spurs to give him a total of seven for his career. This was the 15th season of his career.
LaMarcus Aldridge finishes his career with averages of 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He falls just shy of the 20,000-point mark with 19,951.
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