Former Blazers F Rasheed Wallace Retires (Again)

The New York Knicks announced Wednesday that former Portland Trail Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace has retired again.

New York Knickerbockers Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced forward/center Rasheed Wallace has retired from playing professional basketball.

"Rasheed has given this team everything he had," Head Coach Mike Woodson said. "He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season's success to veterans like Rasheed."

Wallace, 6-11, 245-pounds, averaged 7.0 points, on 38.7-percent shooting, and 4.0 rebounds over 14.1 minutes in 21 games this season. In his 15th NBA season Wallace missed 60 games due to an injured left foot. On Feb. 27, new X-rays showed progression to a fractured left fifth metatarsal and he had surgery on Feb. 28.

Wallace, 38, played for the Blazers from 1996 until 2004. He retired after the 2009-10 season but made a comeback this season. Wallace holds career averages of 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game over 16 seasons with the Washington Bullets, Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and Knicks.

Andrew Sharp of SBNation.com has a tribute post for Wallace here.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter