Indiana Pacers forward Jonathan Bender retired Saturday after he was unable to recover from a series of knee injuries.
"Due to a medical condition in my knees, I will not be able to continue playing basketball," Bender, 25, said in a statement through the team. "The Pacers gave me the chance to play with, and against, the best players in the world."
Toronto made Bender the fifth pick in the 1999 draft, then traded him to Indiana before the season started. He played seven seasons with the Pacers, but never in every game. His best season was in 2001-2002, when he averaged 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.