Post by DiamondThief on Aug 28, 2014 20:38:22 GMT -8
Joel Pryzbilla, a Blazers fan favorite, announced his retirement from the NBA this week. The "Vanilla Gorilla" played eight seasons for the Blazers.
From Sports Illustrated:
Thirteen-year veteran Joel Przybilla has retired from the NBA, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press's Charley Walters
Pryzbilla, a center, last played for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012-13, playing 68 minutes over 12 games. He was not part of a team's roster last season.
A product of Minnesota, Pryzbilla was selected No. 9 in the 2000 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and traded on draft night to the Bucks. After three-plus seasons in Milwaukee, Przybilla was traded to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2003-04 season and signed with the Portland Trail Blazers after the year ended.
The 7-foot-1 Pryzbilla spent the peak of his career in Portland, from 2004-05 until another midseason trade in 2010-11 to the Charlotte Bobcats. Known as a defensive presence, he averaged 6.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in his first two years with the Trail Blazers and had perhaps his best season in 2008-09, when he played in all 82 games for the only time in his career and averaged 5.5 points and a career-high 8.7 rebounds.
Pryzbilla, a center, last played for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012-13, playing 68 minutes over 12 games. He was not part of a team's roster last season.
A product of Minnesota, Pryzbilla was selected No. 9 in the 2000 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and traded on draft night to the Bucks. After three-plus seasons in Milwaukee, Przybilla was traded to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2003-04 season and signed with the Portland Trail Blazers after the year ended.
The 7-foot-1 Pryzbilla spent the peak of his career in Portland, from 2004-05 until another midseason trade in 2010-11 to the Charlotte Bobcats. Known as a defensive presence, he averaged 6.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in his first two years with the Trail Blazers and had perhaps his best season in 2008-09, when he played in all 82 games for the only time in his career and averaged 5.5 points and a career-high 8.7 rebounds.
Graphic courtesy of David.
