Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy set to retire – NBA Update
In a sad development, it has been learnt that Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy will not be pulling on the team’s jersey next season. In fact, the troubled guard won’t be stepping onto an NBA court at all as he has decided
to retire from professional basketball.
Brandon has suffered from pain in knees for the past two years and seems to have lost his battle for fitness. The player said in the past that he was missing cartilage between bones in both knees, but had been recuperating well
during the NBA lockout.
Until this week, Brandon was widely believed to be ready to make his comeback, but now it has been confirmed that the player has instead decided not to put himself through more pain.
His decision has shocked his colleagues at Portland and saddened the team’s fans, for whom Roy was a symbol of revival.
"I couldn't believe it," Blazers forward Nicolas Batum said. "I still can't believe it."
Trail Blazers head Coach Nate McMillan spoke with Roy about his decision and revealed that the player was very disappointed with how things had panned out. He also said that it was a sad day for the franchise, to whom Roy had meant
so much.
"Of course, we know what he means to this franchise. He was part of bringing it back, bringing back winning basketball," McMillan said. "Unbelievable talent. You're sad to see a situation like this happen."
Brandon came to the franchise after a draft day trade and instantly became synonymous with the club which has spiralled down a dark alley in the previous years, earning it the nickname of “Jail Blazers”. Roy won the Rookie of the
Year award in 2007 and made the All-Star weekend for the next three seasons, reviving the fortunes of the franchise in the process.
His knee injuries though reduced him to a shadow of the player he was in the 2010-2011 season when he averaged just around 12 points per game. His overall career averages stand at 19 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game.
"It's a tough situation," Blazers centre Marcus Camby said. "People will say, 'Hey, he'll get his money.' But Brandon's a competitor."
Roy signed a bumper new contract in 2009 which over the last two years has become a liability for the Trail Blazers. They were considering waiving him under the amnesty clause but with his retirement his wages will be covered under
insurance anyway.
Portland General Manager Chad Buchanan though said the club hadn’t gotten into the financial situation and were just sad to hear of Roy’s decision and wanted to show him there full support.
"We're somewhat in the infant stages of going through that process and getting that started," Buchanan said. "But (we're) very supportive of Brandon in all of this. It's a very difficult decision as you can imagine."
An emotional Marcus Camby even suggested retiring his jersey as he believed Roy had all the makings of a Portland legend.
"His number belongs up there," Camby said pointing to the ceiling. "That's all I can say."
Tags: