BELGRADE (NBA) - Vlade Divac, one of most popular Serbo-Montenegrin basketball
players of all time, has announced his retirement from the game.
The LA Lakers centre had been expected to delay his decision until September 3
0 but has now admitted defeat in his quest to recover from a back injury.
Divac had make public his intention to finish his career back in his homeland
with Partizan Belgrade, the club he left to join the Lakers in 1989, but any h
opes of an emotional return now appear to have been dashed.
The 37-year-old, who signed a extended contract with the Lakers last summer, u
nderwent back surgery six months ago and played only 15 games last season, ave
raging just 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds.
"My back is causing me a lot of problems," he admitted.
"At the moment I don't feel pain, but after four of five days of playing I fee
l it a lot.
"There is just a 50-50 chance for me to be fully recovered for the new season.

"As I don't want to become a disabled player, I think this is a right time for
me to stop playing basketball.
He added: "I had talks with the club management but the final decision was lef
t to me.
"I've had a wish for years to finish my career in Partizan, but my current hea
lth leaves almost no chance for me to play in Partizan or for the Lakers.
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