New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks guard Cuttino Mobley announced his retirement Thursday after visiting several heart specialists regarding his health condition.
Mobley, who never suited up with the Knicks after being traded from the Clippers on November 21, was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a significant cause of cardiac death in young athletes.
"The specialists I have seen made it clear that my heart condition has gotten worse, and I cannot 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. I have had the privilege of playing in the NBA for 11 years, but my health and family must come first, and it is time to move on to the next stage in my life."
The 33-year-old Mobley averaged 13.7 points in 11 games this year with the Clippers before his condition temporarily held up the trade that sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to Los Angeles and brought Mobley and Tim Thomas to New York.
In 747 career games with the Rockets, Magic, Kings and Clippers, the Rhode Island product has averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Mobley's best seasons came with Houston, which drafted him in the second round of the 1998 draft. In the 2000-01 campaign, the Philadelphia native logged career high averages of 19.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 79 games for the Rockets.
