GREENBURGH, N.Y. — New York Knicks guard Cuttino Mobley retired from the NBA on Thursday because of heart disease that he said has gotten worse.
Mobley said doctors told him he faced significant risks if he kept playing. The 11-year veteran said by walking away now, he could live a long life.
Mobley announced his decision at a press conference at the Knicks’ training center, where he confirmed he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The condition causes the heart muscle to thicken, making it harder to pump blood, and the 33-year-old Mobley said he had no choice but to end his career.
“The specialists I’ve seen made it clear that my heart condition has gotten worse and I couldn’t continue to play professional basketball without putting my health and life in serious danger,” Mobley said. “As much as I want to keep playing in the NBA, I have no choice but to follow the advice of my doctors and step away from the league.”
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 30 years old and was linked to the deaths of former Boston Celtics forward Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers.
The Knicks acquired Mobley last month from the Los Angeles Clippers — a trade that may ultimately have saved his life. An EKG during his physical showed an irregularity with the heart, which Mobley already knew existed. The Knicks decided to perform an MRI exam, which revealed the more serious condition that previously had gone undetected.
Mobley then saw four specialists around the country, who performed additional tests and provided him literature about the disease that convinced him to stop playing.
“The doctors said to not chance it and I feel as though they’re right, having an 8-year old son, having a long life ahead of me, it’s the smart thing,” Mobley said. “It’s a tough thing to swallow, but things in life happen, but you have to keep going.”
Mobley averaged 16.0 points in 11 seasons with Houston, Orlando, Sacramento and the Clippers. He was expected to become the Knicks’ starting shooting guard after the Nov. 21 trade.
The Knicks could have voided the deal because of the health concerns, but waived the physical requirement because the trade allowed them to move Zach Randolph’s contract, freeing salary cap space for the summer of 2010.
Mobley said he’d thought about the scene of Gathers collapsing on the court during a game. Mobley said it factored into his decision.
“Even though you love something so much, and I am in love with basketball, but sometimes you have to get a divorce,” Mobley said.
Notes
Howard leads early All-Star voting
NEW YORK — Orlando center Dwight Howard leads early balloting for the NBA All-Star game with 775,933 votes and is followed by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Boston’s Kevin Garnett trails James among Eastern Conference forwards. Miami’s Dwyane Wade leads the guards (623,311) and is followed by Detroit’s Allen Iverson.
In the Western Conference, Houston’s Yao Ming leads centers with 529,290 votes. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (442,203) tops Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire among forwards, while New Orleans’ Chris Paul trails Bryant among the guards.
Voting runs through Jan. 19.
Ex-Suns to join Bobcats Saturday
DALLAS — Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary are expected to make their Charlotte Bobcats debuts Saturday night against Detroit, coach Larry Brown said — a day after the three players were acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix sent Bell, Diaw and Singletary to Charlotte on Wednesday for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round draft pick.
Cavs center out with bum ankle
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is expected to miss at least two games after spraining his left ankle in a win at Philadelphia on Wednesday. Ilgauskas rolled his ankle when he tried to block former teammate Donyell Marshall’s shot in the fourth quarter and came down on the foot of the 76ers forward. X-rays taken on Ilgauskas’ ankle were negative, but the Cavaliers said he will sit out tonight’s home game against Philadelphia.
Artest out, McGrady practices
HOUSTON — Houston forward Ron Artest will sit out the next two games with a sprained right ankle, leaving the injury-riddled Rockets with barely enough practice players. Tracy McGrady practiced Thursday and may return ahead of schedule from a knee injury. But Yao Ming skipped the workout because of a cold, leaving the Rockets with just 10 players for the practice.
Thunder’s Wilcox hurts finger
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City forward Chris Wilcox is expected to miss 10 to 14 days after dislocating his left ring finger. Wilcox, who had started the past six games for the Thunder, was hurt midway through the first quarter of Oklahoma City’s loss to Memphis on Wednesday.
Thursday’s results
Celtics 122, Wizards 88
WASHINGTON — Ray Allen and Paul Pierce scored 22 points apiece, Kevin Garnett finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and Boston beat Washington for its 13th consecutive victory and the best start in franchise history.
Mavericks 95, Bobcats 90
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki hit a key 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play and finished with 23 points to help Dallas beat Charlotte.
Jazz 97, Trail Blazers 88
SALT LAKE CITY — Mehmet Okur scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and added 10 rebounds for Utah.
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