Gortat retires from professional basketball

Former NBA center Marcin Gortat is retiring from professional basketball at the age of 35.

"It's time to end my career," Gortat told TVP Info, according to Euro Hoops. "I think this is the moment when the year has passed - as I said at the beginning, I give myself a year (off) to see what life will bring me - and it brought me to this decision, that I am going to retire, I'm finishing my professional playing."

The Polish big man last played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, who waived him in February 2019. The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly considered working out Gortat ahead of this season after DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL in August, but they ultimately decided to sign Dwight Howard.

Gortat averaged 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 806 career games with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, and Clippers. He played in the NBA Finals with Orlando in 2009.