Brandon Roy forced to retire with knee injuries at 27 @ The Fan Hub

December 9th, 2011 3:22 PM

Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy (7) gets fouled while shooting against San Antonio Spurs forward Steve Novak (23) during the second half at the AT&T Center. The Trail Blazers won 100-92. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

Brandon Roy apparently has decided to retire at the age of 27, citing the chronic knee injuries that prevented him from ever playing a full season of basketball since being acquired in a draft day trade by the Portland Trail Blazers after being drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This stunning announcement marks the end of a career that has only spanned five seasons in length and yet proved to be dynamic and exciting. Roy won the Rookie of the Year award in 2007 after averaging 16.8 points and 4 assists a game. A three-time All-Star, his highlight season came during the 2008-2009 campaign, when he averaged a career high 22.6 points a game while adding 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals while playing 78 games. More importantly, the Blazers finished a 54-28, and while they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs that year, Portland fans had a lot to be excited about.

But then came the injuries.

Prior to the 2008 season, Roy underwent an operation to remove a piece of cartilage in his right knee. He had another operation midway through the 2009-2010 season due to a torn meniscus in the knee, and by last season, there was no cartilage left in the knee, causing irritation and pain that forced him to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss the entire month of January. Relegated to the bench, there was wide speculation that he would never be able to play at an All-Star level again.

But that didn’t stop him from leaving a mark on the season. In game three of the first round against the eventual-champion Dallas Mavericks, Roy exploded for 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench, and then one-upped himself by scoring 18 points in the 4th quarter of the next game, allowing his Blazers to overcome a 23-point deficit to even the series at two games apiece.

Roy will always be remembered for his sparks of undeniably brilliant offensive play. Even back in college, playing for the University of Washington, he scored 20 points in a Sweet Sixteen match-up against the number one-seeded University of Connecticut in an overtime thriller. And then of course, there were clutch plays like the improbable game-winning three-pointer in overtime against the Houston Rockets (see the video above).

Following the series against Dallas, there was a lot of speculation that Roy would be able to come back this season refreshed and rested and return to an All-Star level of play. As reports came out about the new amnesty clause in the NBA Lockout, the hot rumor was that Portland would use this opportunity to rid themselves of Roy’s large contract that he signed shortly after the 2008-2009 season, and Roy would latch onto another team and revive his career.

Sadly, it appears that neither of those feel-good stories will emerge, and instead we will be left with these fond memories and with a lot of “what ifs” about just how great of a player he could have become.

Sanchay Jain

Brandon Roy is 27 and, reportedly, retiring due to a lack of knee cartilage. NBA fans are irate about …

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