Veteran center Aaron Gray played seven years in the NBA for the Bulls, Hornets (now Pelicans), Raptors and Kings. He was signed by the Pistons last summer, but forced to sit out and waived before the year started after suffering a cardiac episode during an offseason workout. Now, Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports that Gray is retiring and joining the Pistons as an assistant coach on Stan Van Gundy’s staff:
Aaron Gray tell the Free Press he is retiring and will join SVG's staff. #Pistons.
— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) June 19, 2015
The cardiac episode Aaron Gray suffered last August forces retirement. #Pistons
— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) June 19, 2015
Gray was always a solid rotation big man wherever he played. Arguably the high point of his career came in Game 1 of the Hornets’ first-round series against the Lakers in 2011, when New Orleans pulled out an upset win at Staples Center and Gray contributed 12 points in 20 minutes.
It’s too bad that his career was cut short because of his heart condition, but it’s nice to see him land on the coaching staff of the team he would have played for last season.
