[外電] Shareef Abdur-Rahim retires

看板Kings作者zenwu (橘子)時間15年前 (2008/09/23 09:10)推噓12(12推 0噓 3→)

留言15則, 11人參與討論串1/2 (看更多)

Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced his retirement today, ending his stellar career after 12 seasons. For the last 18 months, the 31-year-old Kings forward had been unable to recover from two arthroscopic knee surgeries and was faced with the reality of retirement far sooner than he had anticipated. But after saying in July that his body would make the decision for him, the answer was not what he had hoped for. "I've been in a situation where I've been trying to get healthy over the last year and a half," Abdur-Rahim said in a statement. "I came to grips with the fact that, health-wise, I won't be able to get back to the condition and level that is needed to play in the NBA. My right knee has become arthritic over the years and is to the point where it won't allow me to do the things and play at the level in which I'm accustomed to playing. As tough as it is to come to grips with, it's the reality." Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, who has become increasingly fond of Abdur-Rahim in recent years, indicated what had been hinted to in this blog in recent months: that Abdur-Rahim could stay on board as a coach. After entering the summer with much talk about hiring a big man's coach, the Kings could call on the man who averaged at least 19.9 points per game in seven of his seasons and at least 8.4 rebounds in five seasons to fill that role. "First of all, on behalf of the organization I want to thank Shareef for his contribution to the Kings and NBA both on and off the court," Petrie said in the statement. "He has had an exemplary career as a player and citizen. It is unfortunate for any productive career to be felled by injury. However, no one can ever doubt Shareef's effort, commitment or desire to excel. It is our intention to find a new role for Shareef with the organization as he begins the next phase of his professional life." While the Kings most certainly wish Abdur-Rahim's decline hadn't come with two seasons left on his five-year deal worth $29 million, there is a silver lining in the situation. There is a strong possibility that they will have Abdur-Rahim's salary ($6.6 million) come off of the salary cap for the 2009-10 season. It would be unexpected relief at a time when their long-term vision of clearing cap space and completing the rebuilding process would be coming into focus. According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, the Kings would have to apply for his salary to be covered by insurance because his career was cut short by injury. If the league's medical folks confirm his condition as the reason for retirement, the Kings get the relief. For the record, it is already too late for the Kings to be absolved of his 2008-09 salary. In order for that to take place, Abdur-Rahim would have had to make his decision during the 2007-08 campaign. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 210.208.154.172

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