COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– Baylor’s 7-1 center Isaiah Austin received some heartbreaking news over the weekend that will preclude him from ever and playing in the NBA…
Austin, a potential late first round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, has a career ending condition called Marfan’s syndrome, which is caused by a genetic mutation that loeads to problems in connective tissues throughout the body. According to Marfan syndrome Foundation, about one in 5,000 people have the connection, which can cause enlargement of the aorta, which can be life threatening.
The 20 year old Austin underwent a standard physical at the NBA combine where his EKG test revealed the abnormality.
NBA physicians recommended he stop playing basketball immediately.
The news, as you, might expect, was devastating.
Austin’s mother, Lisa Green, drove through the night Friday from Kansas to Dallas to deliver the career-ending diagnosis in person. Friends and family, including Baylor coach Scott Drew and Austin’s high school coaches, gathered to tell him the news.
A clearly distraught Austin spoke to ESPN after the diagnosis was delivered.
“They said I wouldn’t be able to play basketball any more at a competitive level,” he said in a halting voice. “They found a gene in my blood sample. They told me that my my arteries in my heart are enlarged and that if I overwork myself or push too hard that my heart could rupture.
“The draft is this week and I had a dream my name was going to be called.”
“For all my supporters,” he added.. I just want to tell them I’m sorry they couldn’t see me play in the NBA. But it’s not the end, it’s only the beginning.”
Included in Austin’s supporters was Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, a former Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor, who reached out in a tweet.
“This is devastating news, but Isaiah has the best support system anyone could ask for, and he knows that all of Baylor Nation is behind him,” Drew said in a statement. “His health is the most important thing, and while it’s extremely sad that he won’t be able to play in the NBA, our hope is that he’ll return to Baylor to complete his degree and serve as a coach in our program.”
Why Baylor didn’t pick this up earlier is anyone’s guess but thankfully the NBA caught the problem in time, allowing Austin to lead a long life..
Austin had already overcome the odds once when he became blind in his right eye during middle school as a result of a detached retina, a disabiliity he kept quiet about until early this year.
Austin played two seasons at Baylor before declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft. He played in 73 games (72 starts) and averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. He finished his Baylor career tied for second on the school’s all-time blocked shots list with 177, and his 119 blocks as a sophomore led the Big 12 Conference. Baylor went a combined 49-26 during his two-year career, winning the 2013 NIT Championship and advancing to the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16.
Austin considered making the jump to the NBA as a freshman, but was not capable of going through the predraft process because of a torn labrum.
