In the summer of 2009, I was under contract for one more year with the Orlando Magic at age 33. We had just finished a remarkable season that saw us go all the way to the NBA Finals, and I was excited about what the future held.
During a workout with teammate Dwight Howard that seemed routine, I made a move that changed the course of my NBA career—and my life.
As I made a fadeaway, I felt a sudden pop in my right knee. Having gone through multiple knee surgeries already, I realized right away this particular pop signaled the end of my NBA career.
I spent the 2009-10 season in rehab and didn’t play a single game, yet I told everyone that I was hopeful that I would be able to play again “soon.” But in my mind, there was no chance.
When my contract expired, the decision to retire was an easy one. The first thing I did was control the situation and go out the best way I knew how—announcing my retirement by writing a poem.
At the end of each NBA season, every veteran faces the question of whether he has what it takes to play ...
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Article written by Adonal Foyle