LaMarcus Aldridge, 7-time NBA All-Star, announces retirement

NEW YORK (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge announcedFriday he is retiring again from the NBA.

Aldridge, 37, initially retired in 2021 after experiencing anirregular heartbeat in the last of five games he played for theBrooklyn Nets that season. He rejoined the Nets five months afterannouncing his retirement.

The seven-time All-Star was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-Whitesyndrome — an abnormality that can cause a rapid heartbeat — as arookie in 2007.

Despite the diagnosis, Aldridge was among his era’s premier bigmen. As the second pick out of Texas in the 2006 draft, he averaged19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in his career.

Aldridge played his first nine seasons with the Portland TrailBlazers before five years with the San Antonio Spurs and his shorttime with the Nets.

“In the words of TB12, you only get one big, emotionalretirement… so, on that note…I’m thankful for all the memories,family and friends I made throughout my career. It was one hell ofa ride and I enjoyed every min!” Aldridge wrote on Twitter.

A five-time All-NBA selection, Aldridge was praised by SanAntonio coach Gregg Popovich when he first retired as a “consummateprofessional with a unique skill set and a deep respect for thegame.”