[外電] Shareef Abdur-Rahim retires

[zenwu (橘子)]

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
推 sacking4:國王低位進攻最好的球員 掰了
推 icetornado:蠻好奇Thompson是即戰力嗎？ 他的球風比較類似誰阿？
推 b1urry:類似webber
推 eliczone:果然是要當長人教練了 SAR揪甘心
推 airer:ya
推 bibihan:明年清出薪資空間了?
推 TB4656:應該吧，明年是球員選擇?如果真的不用付他薪水我真的不知道
→ TB4656:該傷感他的離去還是感謝他的良心QQ
→ TB4656:SAR你保重〒△〒
推 hihi28:辛苦了 感謝...
推 morri222:哀..真的要退了...
推 eliczone:對今年的薪資空間沒幫助 但對老闆有幫助 他的錢保險出
推 eliczone:但下個球季又少一筆錢
→ giba0318:看到他想到Webber
推 rahim1211:他不是費城三人眾啦,拿中產加盟來的