[Ether]

There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and against the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.

As I leave the league for now, there have been so many profound people who inspired me along my way. I have to say thank you for guiding me and having an enormous influence on the way I played basketball. Isaiah Thomas, Rich Devos, Leslie Alexander and John Gabriel, you believed in me and I thank you. Jeff Van Gundy, you exemplified the brilliance of what a great coach is. Steven A. Smith, you gave us players a voice and for that I thank you. Doug Christy, Charles Oakley, Dee Brown, Mugsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Dell Curry, Kevin Willis, you all showed a young kid from Auburndale Florida how to be a better player. Kobe, you made me work harder and it was an honor to play against you. And Yao, we shared an experience together that will always be with me, thank you. Sonny & Pam Vaccarro showed me how there is loyalty and genuine friendship in this business. Arn Tellem and Tim Hoy, 15 years and you are still my agents. Thank you for guiding me throughout my career. When all is said and done, there is so many that made an impact on my life. I am one blessed man to have the love and never ending support of my wife CleRenda and the best 4 kids a man can ask for. But most important, I give glory and thanks to God. It is thru Him that I have been so blessed and I am forever thankful.

As I enter this next chapter, I am excited to play for Qingdao Eagles in China. I have been to China several times in the last few years and I love the people and the country. It will be an honor to play for them. Thank you to every fan that has followed me and believed in me. Injuries and all, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of the mark I left on this game and am grateful to have been a part this league. It was a dream to play in front of all of you, each night, in every stadium. Thank you.

Tmac

one of my favorite players of all time is now fucking off to china

[StarzNBarz]

Originally Posted by The Lady Killer

Fuck my life.

Hope this is just a precautionary measure and not the same thing that ailed him at the beginning of last season.

its alright they still got mayo

[The Lady Killer]

The Mavs record without Dirk has been notably bad. He doesn't miss many games, but when he does, they are awful.

[Notorious]

Yep, I remember back in the 2010-11 season the Mavs had the best record in the NBA and then Dirk missed 2 weeks and they went 2-7 in those games.

And that was when they had one of the most stacked teams in the league.

[The Lady Killer]

Exactly. They dropped to the tail end of the Western Conference playoff contenders. When he returned, they shot back up the rankings and landed a 3rd seed.

[Notorious]

From what's being reported, Dirk may need surgery for his knee.

Terrible news for the Mavs. If Dirk misses significant time, they're fucked. Especially considering that they go as far as Dirk takes them.

[The Lady Killer]

I just read that

Pray to God it isn't true.

[Ageei]

Yeah, that would not be good for Dallas at all.

[Notorious]

Speaking of injuries...

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Andrew Bynum will miss all of Sixers training camp, and will likely not see any playing time during preseason games as he rests his knees. According to the team, Bynum not playing is a precautionary measure “in order to maximize the therapeutic effects of the Orthokine therapy he received earlier this month.”

The Sixers did also say that Bynum was “diagnosed with a bone bruise of the medial femoral chondyle of his right knee.”



94WIP’s Howard Eskin says that he is “getting the sense there is a more serious injury with Andrew Bynum’s knee than the Sixers are telling us. I will go as far as saying I think the Lakers may have given the Sixers damaged goods.”

LOL at Philly getting Jeff Green'd.

[Red Viper]