http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/basketball/ Posted on Tue, Apr. 20, 2004 HORNETS Mashburn mulls retirement Jamal Mashburn, unhappy with how the Hornets have responded to his injuries, says he is seriously considering retirement. BY STEPHEN F. HOLDER [email protected] Injured Hornets forward Jamal Mashburn was watching his teammates work out mere feet from his courtside seat Monday, but as he looked on, it was obvious his mind was miles away. Maybe he was thinking about his rocky relationship with the franchise, his perceived mishandling of his injuries by its medical staff, and, as he disclosed Monday to The Herald, the very real possibility of retirement. Mashburn, who played for the Heat for four seasons from 1996 to 2000, said before the playoffs he would be unable to participate in the first round because of a knee bruise. Coach Tim Floyd's reaction was to leave Mashburn off the playoff roster, preventing him from returning at any point during the postseason. The move was perceived by some as the club sending a message to Mashburn that it is losing patience with his unwillingness to play through injuries. Mashburn has missed 110 of 328 games since joining the Hornets in a 2000 trade, including 63 this season. Still, Mashburn isn't backing down. 'MISDIAGNOSED' "One thing I don't do is sugar-coat things," he said after leaving New Orleans' practice at the University of Miami. "I say what I have to say. I speak the truth. This organization and the way things were done, I've been misdiagnosed a couple times, and it's gotten to the point where I have to take care of myself. "This is something I've dealt with for the past couple years. It's been real difficult. It kind of shows you what pro sports is all about. Sometimes it's not the athlete's best interest that's in mind. They just want you out there on the court. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands. That's the sad part about it." Mashburn's comments could strain his relationship with the team further. He is already considered somewhat distant from some teammates and Floyd. Much of that stems from Mashburn's decision to rehabilitate from offseason knee surgery in Miami, even after the season had begun. FINDING OWN DOCTOR "I remember one time when I had an ankle sprain, [the Heat] flew in an acupuncturist," Mashburn said. "I don't know if it worked, but they really tried. That says a lot. With this organization, there have been times when I had to go find my own doctors. I had to do the legwork. I had to make sure I was OK. I don't think you're always treated as if you're human. You want me to average 20 points per game and do this and do that, I know what I have to do to do that, so I had to go take care of myself." Now, Mashburn, 31, will turn his attention to deciding whether it's worthwhile to continue playing. He plans to discuss retirement with his family after the season, saying he isn't sure it's wise to press a knee he considers fragile. Mashburn has one year remaining on his contract at $9.3 million, then has a player option after next season that would keep him with the Hornets through 2007. "I have to make a decision over the summer," he said. "I've been told with my knee that it's serious. [Retirement] is definitely a viable option. I've been playing for 11 years, and I want to be able to walk when I get older. --

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