Knicks guard Cuttino Mobley had to retire from the NBA court on Thursday because of a life-threatening heart problem.

In a statement on their website, the Knicks said 33-year-old Mobley had a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that had progressed to the point where the 11-year NBA veteran could no longer play.

Recruited in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft, Mobley averaged 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 747 career games with Houston, Orlando, Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers.

New York acquired Mobley last month in a trade with the Clippers but he did not play a game for the Knicks after doctors discovered his heart condition had worsened.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2008)