LaMarcus Aldridge cited a famous No. 12 in announcing his second retirement from the NBA on Friday.
Aldridge, who played 16 seasons in the NBA and was a seven-time All-Star, last played in the league during the 2021-22 season with the Brooklyn Nets. He took to Twitter on Friday to announce his second retirement, as he briefly retired during the 2020-21 season, citing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady in his message.
“In the words of TB12, you only get one big, emotional retirement… so, on that note…I’m thankful for all the memories, family and friends I made throughout my career,” Aldridge tweeted. “It was one hell of a ride and I enjoyed every min!”
Aldridge appeared in 47 games for the Nets last season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds after appearing in five games for them in 2020-21. He retired in the 2020-21 season due to an irregular heartbeat and was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome — an abnormality that can cause a rapid heartbeat — as a rookie in 2007.
He joined the Nets after reaching a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs and provided his new team with an inside post presence that was one of the few things it was missing.
The No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft was long one of the best at his position, averaging 19.1 ppg in a career that began with nine seasons in Portland, where he made four of his All-Star appearances.
He signed with the Spurs as a free agent in 2015, garnering three more All-Star nods and helping San Antonio to two 60-win seasons and a Western Conference finals berth in 2016-17.
Aldridge wore No. 12 throughout his career with the Spurs and Blazers, but played in the No. 21 during his time with the Nets.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
