After multiple operations on his knee and upon reportedly learning from doctors that the stress put on his knees during a grueling NBA season may negatively affect his health, Blazers guard, Brandon Roy, announced he will leave the game of basketball.
The stunning retirement news shocked his peers in the league and prompted many NBA players to deliver their best wishes to the man who revitalized the Blazers franchise and helped retire the “Jail Blazers” slogan that was slapped on to the franchise by fans and other observers.
Said Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony via Twitter: “Not Brandon Roy!!!!!!!! The #NBAis losing a great one. Damn!!!!!!!!!”
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Chris Broussard who sent out a tweet Friday afternoon that read: “Sources say Brandon Roy to announce medical retirement due to degenerative knees, possibly as soon as today.”
According to oregonlive.com, a doctor told Roy that he couldn’t continue because “you might end up not walking.”
The 27-year-old guard out of Washington apparently believed that his knee condition was so serious that he didn’t want to play on and possibly damage his knees even further.
“This is a very difficult and painful day,” Roy said in a statement released by the team. “I love the game, I love the Portland Trail Blazers and I love our fans, but after consulting with my doctors, I will seek a determination that I’ve suffered a career ending injury, pursuant to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.
“My family and health are most important to me and in the end this decision was about them and my quality of life. I want to thank Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Coach McMillan, the entire Trail Blazers organization and our fans for all of their love and support during my time in Portland. It was a great ride.”
Roy averaged 19 points per game in five seasons in the NBA. His best performance came in the 2008-2009 season, when he averaged 22.6 PPG and five assists per game. He was quickly becoming one of the best guards in basketball before the knee condition slowed him down.
Roy played in 47 games last season and averaged 12.2 PPG. His minutes also dropped dramatically.
Owner Paul Allen said he was “very sad” to learn that Roy had to step away from the game at such a young age. Team president Larry Miller said, “Brandon Roy will always be a Trail Blazer in our hearts and minds. He was an All-Star and a warrior every night that he stepped on the court and gave everything he had to help us win. He was a role model on and off the court, and through his leadership he turned us into a winning franchise once again.”
