Rick Fox calls it a career

Fox played his first six seasons with the Boston Celtics, then spent the last seven years with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was dealt back to Boston this past August as part of the Gary Payton trade, and the Celtics waived him Thursday to facilitate his retirement.

Foot, neck and back injuries this past season limited him to just 38 games and there was speculation that we would decide to retire.

"We were aware of Rick’s medical situation when we made the trade," said Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. "He has been a true professional and will always be a member of the Celtics family, especially considering this is where he started his career."

Fox averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 930 games during his NBA career, winning three championships with the Lakers. His best year as a pro came in his final season with the Celtics when he posted 15.4 points per game in 1996-97.

Boston selected Fox with the 24th overall pick of the 1991 NBA Draft after he enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at North Carolina. He later became the first Celtic rookie to start on opening night since Larry Bird in 1979.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged just 4.8 points this past season.

"He has been rehabbing diligently all summer in hopes of returning for the upcoming season," said spokesperson Staci Wolfe in a release Thursday, "but unfortunately his body is simply not responding."