Brooklyn Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement Thursday after he experienced an irregular heartbeat during a recent game. In a Twitter post, Aldridge said he played his last game Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers with the irregular rhythm, which became worse after the game. He told the team the next morning and was examined at a hospital.
Aldridge wrote: “Though I’m better now, what I felt with my heart that night was still one of the scariest things I’ve experienced. With that being said, I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from the NBA. For 15 years, I’ve put basketball first, and now, it’s time to put my health and family first.” Aldridge did not specify what caused the irregular heartbeat, however he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart ailment that causes erratic heartbeat, in 2007.
Aldridge signed with the Nets in late March after spending six seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Nets general manager Sean Marks said: “We know this was not an easy decision for him, but after careful consideration and consultation with numerous medical experts, he made the best decision for him, his family and for his life after basketball. We wish LaMarcus, Kia and their family much health and happiness going forward.”
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