NBA News: LaMarcus Aldridge Retires After 5 Games With Brooklyn Nets

LaMarcus Aldridge has retired from the NBA with just one month left in the regular season. The 35-year-old was one of the most notable players to switch teams mid-season, signing with the Brooklyn Nets after negotiating a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldridge announced Thursday morning on social media that he is retiring for health reasons. The seven-time All-Star played with an irregular heartbeat in his last game and was taken to the hospital the following morning.

“Though I'm better now, what I felt with my heart that night was still one of the scariest things I've experienced,” Aldridge said.” “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 is time to put my health and family first.”

Aldridge has missed games in the past because of heart-related issues. As a rookie in the 2006-07 season, Aldridge was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which means an extra electrical pathway between his heart's upper and lower chambers causes a rapid heartbeat.

The news is a blow to the Nets, who had planned for Aldridge to be a contributor during their playoff run. Aldridge only played five games with Brooklyn. He averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game during his brief time with the team.

In his second-to-last game, Aldridge scored 22 points on 8-12 shooting in a 139-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7. Aldridge had 12 points on Saturday in a 126-101 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aldridge is a two-time All-NBA Second-Team Selection, most recently receiving the honor in 2018. The big man made the All-NBA Third-Team three times.

The Nets were able to acquire Aldridge for nothing because he is no longer one of the league’s top big men. With career averages of 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, Alridge averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26 games this season.

Brooklyn also added Blake Griffin in free agency last month. Center DeAndre Jordan could get more playing time now that Aldridge is no longer part of the rotation.

Led by Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, the Nets are still favored to win this year’s championship. Brooklyn has the second-best record in the East.