Spurs guard Ford retires after latest neck injury

SAN ANTONIO—San Antonio Spurs guard T.J. Ford announced his retirement from the NBA on Monday, saying his departure was for the best after the latest in a series of neck and spine injuries.

Ford, who turns 29 next week, averaged 3.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 rebounds a game in limited playing time over 14 games with the Spurs this season, his eighth in the NBA.

“Official ‘I Retire from the NBA’ as of today,” Ford posted on his Twitter page. “Thanks to all my fans who follow my career since a kid from all over the world. Basketball has been great to me & my family for 28yrs.

“Today will be a new beginning in life”

Ford, who played collegiately at the nearby University of Texas, has been nagged by neck injuries, the most recent coming last Wednesday in a victory over New York.

“While this was a tough decision to make, it is what is best for me and my family at this time,” Ford said in a statement. “Regardless of what the future holds, I will carry the experiences, the friendships and the memories with me forever.”

Ford began his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks as the eighth overall selection in the 2003 NBA Draft, but midway into his rookie season suffered a spinal injury that forced him to miss the entire 2004-2005 season.

He played the following season for the Bucks and the next two with Toronto before joining Indiana in 2008 and having his best season, averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 74 games with the Pacers.

Ford spent three seasons at Indiana before joining the Spurs this season. For his NBA career, Ford averaged 11.2 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.16 steals in 27.7 minutes a game over 429 appearances.

“The entire organization has enjoyed having T.J. Ford in San Antonio this season,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I congratulate him on all that he has achieved as a player and fully support the difficult decision he was forced to make.”