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Kings' Abdur-Rahim ends 12-year career

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-23 13:48

SACRAMENTO, California - Sacramento Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced his retirement Monday, ending a 12-year NBA career that included winning an Olympic gold medal.

The 31-year-old Abdur-Rahim has been battling problems in his right knee, which forced him to miss almost all of last season.

Abdur-Rahim's production had dwindled in recent years after achieving stardom early in his career. After being drafted third overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies out of California in 1996, he quickly became the Grizzlies' best player, averaging 20.8 points over his five seasons in Vancouver.

While with the Grizzlies, he was a member of the US Olympic Team that brought home the gold medal in 2000 in Sydney, Australia.

He was an All-Star selection in 2002 with the Atlanta Hawks, for whom he played for 2 1/2 seasons before being dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers.