LaMarcus Aldridge retires from the NBA due to heart condition

Nets forward LaMarcus Aldridge has officially retired from the NBA.

In an open letter, Aldridge explained that he experienced an irregular heartbeat in his final game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The seven time All-Star wrote “what I felt that night was still one of the scariest things I’ve experienced.” Aldridge thanked Nets fans and the organization, and apologized that his stint in Brooklyn “didn’t get to last long.”

According to Jeff Stotts, Aldridge previously was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and successfully went through various ablation procedures throughout his career. Nets GM Sean Marks said in a statement that the team fully supports Aldridge’s decision, and that “his health and well being are far more important than the game of basketball.”