New York Knicks Forward, Rasheed Wallace, announces Second Retirement before Playoffs

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First Posted: Apr 19, 2013 10:53 AM EDT

Rasheed Wallace is retiring from the NBA for the second time. After 15 years of playing in six teams, the power forward is hanging up the gloves. Or in this case, his basketball sneakers.

Wallace, who was signed by the Knicks in October, has announced his retirement last Wednesday, April 17. The decision was pushed by his recurring injured left foot, forcing him to miss most of the games this season. Wallace only played 21 games this year.

In need of surgery, the big man announced his absence from the league this season due to a stress fracture in his left foot. Wallace last played on December 13, 2012 against the LA Lakers where he scored 8 points on a 3-5 FG%. He has since missed all Knicks' games until last Monday, when he suited up to play after recovering from the injury. But it seems like fate isn't on Rasheed's side. Facing the Charlotte Bobcats in their last game this season, the former North Carolina standout only played for four minutes because of soreness in his foot.

His retirement was made official last Wednesday, just after the team's morning practice. In an official statement released by the New York Knicks, Coach Mike Woodson expressed his feelings about the player's decision.

"Rasheed has given this team everything he had," the coach said. "He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs."

"We all wish we can play forever but that's just not the case," Coach Woodson expressed in a report by the Wall Street Journal. "Some play longer than the others and in this case he had a long career, man, and he tried to come back and it just didn't work and he's going to move on with his life."

Wallace started his career as a Washington Wizard, being the 4th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Drafts. After the 1995-1996 season, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers where he played for eight seasons. While with the team, he was voted into the All Star games for two consecutive years--2000 and 2001. He went on to play for the Hawks, the Pistons and the Celtics, before announcing his first retirement in 2010. Coming back this season, Rasheed averaged 7 points, 4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game.

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