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LaMarcus Aldridge shocked the NBA world on Thursday, revealing the unfortunate news that he will be medically retiring from basketball due to an issue with his heart.
Aldridge, a seven-time All-Star forward, missed the Nets’ last two games due to a non-COVID illness. It was expected to be a temporary absence, but the 35-year-old revealed Thursday morning that a health scare will force his exit from the NBA.
The former No. 2 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft revealed that he played through an irregular heartbeat on April 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers. During the game, Aldridge didn’t look like himself and struggled in the matchup against Andre Drummond. The situation worsened after the game and into the night. After reaching out to the Nets’ medical staff the next morning, he went to the hospital and the issue was diagnosed.
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Aldridge signed with the Nets on March 28, quickly learning a prominent role in the starting lineup. He was averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in five contests with Brooklyn. He will retire with an unforgettable resume, playing at an incredible level for the majority of his NBA career.
- LaMarcus Aldridge stats: 19,951 career points (19.4 PPG), 8,478 rebounds (8.2 RPG), 1,140 blocks (1.1 BPG), 49.1% shooter.
Players, fans react to LaMarcus Aldridge medically retiring
As word spread of his shocking retirement, the Nets, players and NBA fans all weighed in on Aldridge’s career and his impact on the game.