FIBA Basketball
CZE - Zidek poised to call it a day
Czech basketball great Jiri Zidek is likely to end his career soon because of a left knee injury.
PRAGUE (NBL) - Czech basketball great Jiri Zidek is likely to end his career soon because of a left knee injury.
The 32-year-old, the first basketball player from the Czech Republic to play in the NBA - he also won an NCAA title with UCLA in the mid-nineties - is in such a bad condition that it's unlikely that even surgery can help him.
Zidek has had health problems since June 2005 when he played his last game for CEZ Basketball Nymburk.
He said: "My ankles and calves have not absorbed shock from movements over the years.
"That put all the pressure on my knees. I have not had a basketball in my hands for nearly nine months. I do not believe I will come back when I look at my health.
It's about a 1% chance."
Zidek played in 135 NBA games during three seasons in Charlotte, Denver and Seattle and wants to set up a business in real estate.
The giant Czech, who also hopes for a scouting role with the NBA, said: "We want to buy some lodging houses together with my brother and reconstruct them."
He does not want to organise a farewell match, telling the www.basket.idnes.cz website: "It could be very emotional and very hard for me."
PA Sport
The 32-year-old, the first basketball player from the Czech Republic to play in the NBA - he also won an NCAA title with UCLA in the mid-nineties - is in such a bad condition that it's unlikely that even surgery can help him.
Zidek has had health problems since June 2005 when he played his last game for CEZ Basketball Nymburk.
He said: "My ankles and calves have not absorbed shock from movements over the years.
"That put all the pressure on my knees. I have not had a basketball in my hands for nearly nine months. I do not believe I will come back when I look at my health.
It's about a 1% chance."
Zidek played in 135 NBA games during three seasons in Charlotte, Denver and Seattle and wants to set up a business in real estate.
The giant Czech, who also hopes for a scouting role with the NBA, said: "We want to buy some lodging houses together with my brother and reconstruct them."
He does not want to organise a farewell match, telling the www.basket.idnes.cz website: "It could be very emotional and very hard for me."
PA Sport