Marfan syndrome blocked Isaiah Austin’s battle for NBA , but he still realized his dream in this league.
In 2014, Isaiah Austin was chosen symbolically by the NBA.
is 7 feet 1 inch tall and has technical characteristics exactly like Kevin Durant. Austin of has always had the dream of entering the NBA. Although unfortunate fate prevents him from entering the league as a player, he can still come here with a different identity.
On Monday (October 3) local time, the 27-year-old Austin officially embarked on a related position in the NBA League Office Researcher Project. Although not on the court to pass the ball and score, but this position allows him to influence the big and small games in the NBA in another way.
From 2012 to 2014, Austin has been the star of the Baylor University men's basketball team, and once had the prospect of the first round of the 2014 draft. However, in the pre-draft joint test, Austin's heart rate increased abnormally after a running test, and his illness began to surface.
"I met with the team doctors of all 30 teams,They said that because my joints were too long and loose, they suspected that I had Marfan syndrome. "Austin said, "I had never heard of this disease at the time, and there were no physical features of Ma Fan patients. So I hope they will take me to do a DNA test. I remember a few days after the consortium test was over, they took me back to Chicago and collected my blood sample. It wasn't until only 5 days before draft night that the news of the test results came back. They confirmed that I did carry the Marfan syndrome gene.
"My family has never had a Ma Fan patient, and my chance of getting sick is only one in a million."
According to the description of Marfan.org website, Marfan syndrome is a genetic disease that affects the connective tissue of human . Connective tissue is used to support all the cells, organs and tissues of the human body. And help the body to grow and develop normally.
Austin was deprived of the qualifications to become an NBA player, and the doctor told him that he would take risks even if he continued to play in the future. However, the NBA did not abandon him, the president. Adam Silver invited him and his family to the draft scene, and selected him with a symbolic lot in the middle of the first round of the draft. The dialogue between Austin and Xiao Hua on the matter was also for him. Afterwards, the possibility of returning to the NBA has laid the groundwork.
"Even before the 2014 draft, the NBA family has always been very willing to accept Isaiah. "The NBA's senior vice president of player development, Jamila Wildman, said, "We made this promise to him many years ago. Isaiah has experienced his own player career, and now he has decided to come back to grasp this opportunity, as a player development team, we have also been able to fulfill our promise to retired players.Help them complete the transition-whether their player career in the NBA is long or short, and when it doesn't matter, our commitment is not only for the athletes, but for each of them. Therefore, the support for Isaiah is completely in line with the orientation and goals of the alliance and even our department. "
Austin will serve in the league’s player development department for one year. This temporary project can help him build his network and social relationships to prepare him for a long-term position in the league (whether in the league). The office is still going to a certain team). But to get there, he still has a lot to learn.
"As for how to help him create potential opportunities, we will focus on four areas. . "Widman said, "The main thing is the introductory teaching and skills training in the field of company culture and vocational technology... Finally, there is the basic knowledge of NBA as a business operation. We introduced him to different departments of the Union Office and provided him with various contacts and resources, which will be useful to him in the future. During this period, we will clearly feel his progress and bring this progress to a platform where he can succeed.
After spending two years of life without basketball, Austin was finally able to continue his career as a professional player in 2016. University's 12 span David Liang wrote a letter of clarification to Austin and observed him for two and a half years. Although at first the doctor only allowed Austin to go to the amateur league to regain his basketball dream, he finally got permission to compete in professional tournaments. He has been abroad for five years, and he has gained a successful career.
During this period of wandering overseas,Austin has left footprints in 13 countries and played in 11 of them, which also left him with memories that are worth cherishing for a lifetime.
"My favorite place is , the capital of Lebanon, and Beirut," Austin said, "the people there gave me sincere love. I also made my best friends there, Ahmadbrahin , We met in the first season I played there. He will definitely be a guest at my wedding in the future. The whole Lebanon has given me great enthusiasm and love."
Austin and His girlfriend Alexa Fogel plans to get married in July next year. The two first met in the United States. Their eldest son, Zeke, was born in 2017 in Belgrade , which was the first stop after Austin returned to the professional arena.
Austin recently announced his retirement, and the office of the league office is about to become the next chapter of his life.
"It feels like receiving a doctor's permission letter for the second time, but now I am at the age of being a father and accompanying my son at home." Austin said, "I hope to support and help as much as possible. He hopes to get out of the basketball game to accompany his family. I really feel that I have enjoyed the happiness that basketball brings me."
Austin originally still had the opportunity to play overseas, but accepted the NBA job. It will make his life more stable.
"As we grow older and richer in life experience,I realized how important this opportunity might be to me. "He said, "I know that basketball has brought me all these good luck, and it has also given me so many opportunities. Although I have never experienced 9 to 5 work, they gave me ample trust and allowed me to take it step by step. I am grateful for this, and they are kind to me in this matter.
Austin’s ambitious goal in the future is to become the general manager of an NBA team. Still an avid basketball fan, he is very interested in any content of player training, especially the training of players' off-court life, words and deeds. I also have a lot of research on mental health, you know, sometimes a big man is reluctant to talk about this experience. I hope I can change this mentality, and everyone should calmly state their mental health and inner thoughts. It's fine to say frankly, because doing so is good for your health.
Despite some difficulties, Austin still maintains a positive attitude towards everything he is doing now. When playing overseas, he often communicated with his teammates and helped them resolve their personal worries. Many people say that he is good at using words to inspire people and guide everyone forward.
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