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PORTLAND (AFP) – Argentina's Fabricio Oberto retired suddenly from the National Basketball Association because of a heart condition that caused palpitations.
Oberto, a centre for the Portland Trail Blazers, had known about the cardiac problem for some time. The 35-year-old signed with Portland on October 25.
In a game on Tuesday against Milwaukee, Oberto experienced lightheadedness and dizziness in the first half. It was after that game he decided to call it quits.
"I made this decision to put my health and my family in front of basketball," Oberto said on Thursday. "It was a tough decision to make after playing for so many years, but it was the right one."
Oberto was in his sixth NBA season. The Blazers signed Oberto because of injuries to centres Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden, who both had knee surgeries.
Oberto, a centre for the Portland Trail Blazers, had known about the cardiac problem for some time. The 35-year-old signed with Portland on October 25.
In a game on Tuesday against Milwaukee, Oberto experienced lightheadedness and dizziness in the first half. It was after that game he decided to call it quits.
"I made this decision to put my health and my family in front of basketball," Oberto said on Thursday. "It was a tough decision to make after playing for so many years, but it was the right one."
Oberto was in his sixth NBA season. The Blazers signed Oberto because of injuries to centres Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden, who both had knee surgeries.
