If there is anyone in the NBA who can empathize with LaMarcus Aldridge deciding to retire to preserve his physical health, it’s former teammate Jeff Green.
Briefly teammates with the Nets before Aldridge announced his retirement on Thursday, Green and Aldridge both have now experienced heart issues during their careers. Aldridge played the last game of his career with an irregular heartbeat last week, while Green underwent open heart surgery back in 2012.
Green has since been able to talk to Aldridge since his stunning retirement announcement, and as someone who wasn’t sure if he’d ever play basketball again himself, he was able to relate to the bigger-than-basketball trials that Aldridge is now experiencing.
“My reaction? I was shocked at first,” Green said. “But given the situation, I’m happy for him. For me, having gone through heart surgery, health is very, very important. For me, it’s about health first. You want to be around for your kids, your family, your wife. I think that’s most important, and you’ve got to take care of yourself first. He made the decision to step away and I fully support him on that.”
Green underwent surgery to address an aortic root aneurysm, and was able to be there for Aldridge when they spoke on Thursday, shortly after Aldridge tweeted his announcement that he would retire.
“I didn’t find out until going into the Minnesota game,” Green said. “I’m just glad that he’s fine. It’s bigger than basketball for me, and for him as you can see. I’m just happy he’s OK, he’s healthy, and he’s around his family. I’m just glad the episode calmed down.
Aldridge’s retirement certainly puts the Nets in a more difficult spot for their title quest, as the frontcourt and rim protection was a big hole on the team before Aldridge came along, but Green and the team are far from concerned about that aspect, especially when it comes to a teammate’s well-being.
“No, I’d never say, or put it anywhere near the category of let us down,” Green said. “Especially for me, by being so personal. For me, it’s about health first, making sure he’s OK. I don’t care about basketball at that point. That’s not even in the conversation. For me, it’s about making sure he’s OK as a human, physically, and that he’s just around, to be around his family and being loved…in my book he had a Hall of Fame career, and he went out on good graces. So, as long as he’s healthy, and he’s breathing, he’s around his family and he’s loved, I’m happy for him and I fully support him.”
Green said Aldridge seemed to be at peace with his decision, even if it was never something he expected to endure after just five games with the Nets.
“He’s in good spirits,” Green said. “That’s all you can ask for.”
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