LaMarcus Aldridge retires from NBA due to irregular heartbeat

LaMarcus Aldridge shockingly announced his retirement on Thursday, revealing that he experienced an irregular heartbeat and wants to put his health before his basketball career.

"For 15 years I've put basketball first," Aldridge wrote. "And now, it is time to put my health and family first."

On Saturday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, Aldridge said he had an irregular heartbeat, which only worsened after the game.

"The next morning, I told the team what was going on and they were great getting me to the hospital," Aldridge wrote.

The veteran missed the Nets' last two games, with the team citing non-COVID-19 illness as the reason for his absence. Nets general manager Sean Marks said the entire organization supported Aldridge's decision, knowing that he needed to do what was best for him and his family.

Aldridge's time with the Nets was short, as he only played five games for Brooklyn after being bought out of his contract by the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent the last five-and-a-half seasons. Before San Antonio, the seven-time All-Star played his first nine years with the Portland Trail Blazers.