Rasheed Wallace quietly retires from NBA for a second time

Rasheed Wallace has been bothered by a left foot injury most of the season. New York Knicks Coach Mike Woodson told reporters Wednesday morning the veteran player was still struggling with soreness and might not be available for the playoff opener against Boston this weekend.

Soon after, Woodson learned Wallace would not play in that game -- or any other. The Knicks announced Wallace’s retirement after 15 seasons in the NBA later in the morning.

“Rasheed has given this team everything he had,” Woodson said in the statement. “He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season’s success to veterans like Rasheed.”

It’s the second time that Wallace has retired from the league. The 2004 NBA champion with the Detroit Piston first called it a career after helping the Boston Celtics come within a game of winning a championship in 2010.

Woodson, who was with the Pistons during that championship season, talked Wallace into joining the Knicks during this last off-season. The Knicks got off to a fast start and Wallace played a significant role, averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in about 14 minutes per game.

But it didn’t last. Wallace hadn’t played since December before returning Monday against Charlotte. He played just four minutes before removing himself from the game due to soreness in his surgically repaired broken left foot.

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