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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Forces Player Cuttino Mobley to Retire

Current Guard, and Former Los Angeles Clipper Cuttino Mobley Retired as the Result of a Heart Condition

By Ryan Christopher DeVault

Cuttino Mobley has decided to retire from basketball after his heart condition had worsened. Diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy , the condition was first disclosed during a physical exam conducted by his basketball team. It was a lucky discovery, too, as it took place only because of the required physical given to players who have been traded. Cuttino Mobley had just been traded from the to the New York Knicks along with several other players, and when he went through his physical, the heart condition was noticed. New York let the trade go through anyways, and Mobley became a Knick.

Deciding to favor his health over a prolonged NBA career, Cuttino Mobley decided that it was time to retire from the game of basketball. During his career he average 16.1 points per game, with his best season coming in 2001-2002 when he played for the and scored 21.7 points per game for them. Mobley was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, and played for them until he was traded to the for Tracy McGrady in 2004. From there he was traded to the before signing a lucrative free agent contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. That contract netted him $42 million for the next 5 years, and set him up financially for life.

Having already made a lot of money playing a game he loves, it was probably a very smart decision for Cuttino Mobley to retire from the game. With the condition of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy comes a thickened muscle in the heart, which in turn makes it harder for the heart to work and pump blood. This lack of usability puts athletes at risk if they are pressing too hard, or if they are wearing themselves out in practice or games. It is a life threatening affliction, and could be potentially fatal if he kept playing ball, thus leading to his ultimate decision.

During his days in the NBA, Cuttino Mobley was a really stand-up guy, and a player that teammates liked to have around. He was also a very energetic player, who liked to shoot those game winning three-points shots with the clock winding down. He was definitely a very good player, and it had to be an extremely hard decision to announce his retirement. Though difficult, it was definitely the right thing for his health, and hopefully it lets him live a long and productive life off the court now.

Source: Announcement of Retirement

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