Brandon Roy, All-Star guard of the Portland Trail Blazers, made a huge decision by considering a medical retirement because of his constant suffering with his knees, ESPN.com reports.
The former “rookie of the year awardee” has had fought against degenerative knees disorder and had multiple surgeries which shortened his stint in the NBA and which was described it as a career-ending injury.
According to MedcineNet.com that degenerative knees are also known as osteoarthritis, which is a type of arthritis that shows the break-up and ensuing loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. This usually leads to hip pains that prompt patients to undergo hip implantation procedure, which has become a subject of complaints in some places worldwide leading to DePuy lawsuit.
Fighting against degenerative knees and having experienced multiple surgeries, Roy has been in the league since 2006, with an average of 19 points per game, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Last tournament he averaged a career low 12.2 points while playing in just 47 games.
A five-year veteran who had helped the team shed its “Jail Blazers” reputation, Roy has been dogged by pain for the past two seasons.
Chad Buchanan, who is the team’s acting general manager, said that the Trail Blazers were still trying to find ways for Roy, among them the amnesty clause in the NBA’s new labor agreement.
Roy’s sudden exit from the sport means that a great career has been stopped shortly due to injuries.
Brandon Roy was described as the Blazer’s best player and vocal leader for many seasons. Nevertheless the sterling years of the Blazers basketball will cease with his retirement, writes TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott. Blog.
Buchanan said late Friday that the team was exploring its options concerning both a formal medical retirement and amnesty for Roy, who signed a five-year maximum contract with the team in 2009. The clause would permit the team to relinquish Roy without depriving him of his take-home pay counting against the salary cap and luxury tax.
The sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Washington, Roy was acquired by the Blazers in a draft-day trade.
Roy was able to earn The 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year and was able to be part of the All-Star team from 2008-2010.
He was Nicknamed “The Natural” by the team’s broadcasters and has been the jovial face of the franchise and still remains popular among Portland fans.
In the last season’s first-round playoff series against the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, Roy shook off the pain and led Portland to a stunning 84-82 comeback victory in Game 4. Roy scored 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Blazers erased a 23-point deficit.
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