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Isaiah Austin has been cleared to return to basketball after a devastating diagnosis nearly derailed his career during the 2014 NBA draft combine workout. According to ESPN.com, the former Baylor University Bear has been cleared by physicians to resume working out; an improbable second chance for one of college basketball’s biggest standouts. The 23-year-old big man tweeted about his recent good fortune, “this is for HIS glory. God is real!” Austin wrote on the social media platform, “prayer is powerful. Talk and HE will listen I promise! #DreamAgain2.0.”
According to reports Austin was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome during a standard physical at the NBA combine; the genetic disorder affects connective tissue that holds together all of the body’s cells including organs and tissue (Marfan Foundation). Connective tissue is present throughout the body and vital to growth and development. Marfan syndrome can be a fatal genetic disorder; Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman succumbed to the disease. (www.ESPN.com)
Fans around the Twitter-sphere congratulated Austin on his determination to achieve his life long dream of playing in the league tweeting uplifting messages to the college star.
Former college teammate and NBA player Quincy Miller got in on the action as well, wishing his Austin all the best, “#dreamagain #dreamsbecometrue,” Miller tweeted with a throwback picture of Austin at Baylor, “My brother @IsaiahAustin is cleared to hoop again…the feeling surreal. Congrats bra I feel like it’s me #itson.”
What’s Next?
His clean bill of health is the first step in making it back to the NBA draft but the student coaching assistant now has the daunting task of convincing teams that he’s strong enough to play basketball the game a the highest level. Chris Bosh overcame a medical diagnosis and returned to the game, so don’t count this determined big man out just yet. With conditioning and intensive time running the hardwood again, it will be excited to see how quickly this former college star can bounce back. He’s come so far in his career, this is definitely not the end for Austin.