Brandon Roy retires
The seemingly never-ending saga surrounding Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy and his balky knees has reached a stunning conclusion.
Two sources with knowledge of Roy’s decision told The Oregonian Friday morning that Roy plans to retire because of degenerative knees, confirming a story first reported by ESPN.
Roy made this decision, one of the sources said, after meeting with doctors on Thursday. After evaluating Roy’s knees, which have been operated on six times and no longer have any cartilage, the doctor flatly told Roy he should no longer play.
Brandon Roy has given Portland a mountain of memories but none more dramatic than last season’s monumental comeback against Dallas in the NBA Playoffs. Roy brought his team back from a 23-point deficit to level the series at 2:2. The all-star guard scored 18 fourth quarter points in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history.
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Brandon Roy has given Portland a mountain of memories but none more dramatic than last season’s monumental comeback against Dallas in the NBA Playoffs. Roy brought his team back from a 23-point deficit to level the series at 2:2. The all-star guard scored 18 fourth quarter points in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history.
“You can’t do this” – the doctor told Roy, according to one of the sources. “You might end up not walking.”
At one point Thursday afternoon, the Blazers had planned on making Roy available to reporters for the first time since last season. But minutes later, the availability was hastily called off.
Brandon Roy.
Portland guard Brandon Roy will take a medical retirement according to a tweet from ESPN’s Chris Broussard.
Update: This tweet came from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo:
“Portland’s Brandon Roy has been diagnosed with a “career-ending (knee) injury,” league source confirms to Y! Sports. ‘He’s done.’”
The announcement could come as early as Friday from the former Rookie of the Year.
Roy, who has been battled degenerative knees and had multiple surgeries, has been in the league since 2006 and averages 19 points, 4,7 assists and 4,3 rebounds.
Last season Roy averaged a career low 12,2 points while playing in just 47 games.
Writes Tom Ziller of SB Nation:
“A medical retirement will allow the Blazers to remove his contract from the books beginning next season, provided that Roy doesn’t return to the court before then and a league-appointed doctor agrees that the All-Star guard is no longer able to play. Roy is owed $64 million over the next four seasons.”
Portland players were informed of Roy’s decision to seek medical retirement on Friday before the first practice of training camp.
“I couldn’t believe it” – Blazers forward Nicolas Batum said. “I still can’t believe it.”
“It’s a tough situation” – Blazers center Marcus Camby said. “People will say ‘Hey, he’ll get his money.’ But Brandon’s a competitor.”
Roy, a five-year veteran who helped the team shed its “Jail Blazers” reputation, said he lacks cartilage between the bones in both knees.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Roy had not yet filed the retirement paperwork with the league.
Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy told the team that he is retiring because of ongoing difficulty with his knees.
Portland players were informed of Roy’s decision to seek medical retirement Friday before the first practice of training camp.
Roy (a five-year veteran who helped the team shed its ‘Jail Blazers’ reputation) has been dogged by knee injuries and surgeries. He has said he lacks cartilage between the bones in both knees.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Roy had not yet filed the retirement paperwork.
Roy did not report to the Blazers’ practice facility Friday, and his agent did not respond to a request for comment on any retirement plans – first reported by ESPN.com early Friday.
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