End of an era: The second-oldest player in ACB history retires / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7 via ZUMA Wire Credit Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7 via ZUMA Wire

Albert Oliver chose a photo depicting him to wear the Gran Canaria jersey to announce the end of his professional basketball playing career at the age of 43.

Alberto Oliver

Position:PGAge:43Height:187 cmWeight:85 kgBirth place:Barcelona, SpainProfileNewsStatistics

He did so this Thursday indicating that "this is going to be my last week as a professional basketball player. I started playing at the age of 6 in school and I'm retiring at 43. I can't describe in words what basketball has meant to me, but what I can say is that I have enjoyed it every day. And a lot."

The Catalan point guard will play his last game against Valencia Basket on May 14. Oliver played 674 games in the ACB, scoring a total of 5.211 points. His scoring high was 28 points on April 6, 2013 when Gran Canaria faced Cajasol in San Pablo.

He was also part of the Spanish National Team in the FIBA windows leading to the 2019 World Cup in China. He won the 2019 Spanish Super Cup with Gran Canaria and became the oldest scorer in EuroLeague's history in 2019.

Oliver made his ACB debut in 1997 and will retire as the second-oldest player to have played in the competition after Darryl Middleton. He is in fourth place in the all-time ACB assists ranking.

The point guard has a long list of thanks, among which are his former coaches Fotis Katsikaris, Luis Casimiro, Salva Maldonado, Pedro Martínez, Aito Garcia Reneses, Sergio Scariolo, "for respecting me and making me a better player".

They were the coaches he had on his way, without also forgetting the most notable of the clubs he played at: Joventut Badalona, Manresa, Valencia, Estudiantes, Gran Canaria, Betis and Obradoiro.

He also thanked "all the fans of the teams I have played for, for how dear you have always made me feel." He did not forget the game officials, for "the respect you've shown me during all these years and for sparing me some technical fouls."

The veteran player included luck in his 'thank you' list. Why?

"Because there are things in life that you can't choose. You can't choose your parents, your brother, your children and the person you fall in love with. I didn't choose, but luckily, I have the best by my side," Oliver concluded.

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