By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Henk Norel decided to retire and explained his decision to BD. A long history of knee problems including multiple surgeries led him to call it quits at 32.
“I really don’t want another surgery. Yes, that means I am retiring. That’s just the way it is”, he mentioned, “It’s over. A sixth surgery is not an option for me.”
The Dutch big was picked 47th in the 2009 NBA draft but never made it to the NBA, mainly due to the knee issues.
Up to the 2019-20 season, he competed in Spain with his multiyear run featuring lengthy stints at Badalona and Zaragoza. For the first time played in his country for Heroes Den Bosch, 18 months after his fifth knee surgery.
“They wanted to keep me. The club was willing to let me practice less and play fewer games. But I didn’t like that,” he said, “That’s not fair to the club and to myself. When I play basketball, I want to go for it not just worry about my knees.”