Isaiah Austin cleared to play basketball following two-year battle with Marfan syndrome
Baylor big man is finally getting his shot at playing in the NBA.
After a Marfan syndrome diagnosis sidelined him from basketball for two years, Baylor product Isaiah Austin has been cleared by his doctor to play again. Austin, a 7’1 stretch big man who was considered a mid-to-late first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, made the announcement on Wednesday via his Instagram account.
“Ever since the draft, I’ve been getting checked by my doctors. And through those check-ups, we’ve been monitoring my heart, making sure nothing has changed,” he said in his announcement. “He said that I’m stable. I am cleared. I am about to be out here pursuing my dream.”
The 23-year-old Austin averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as a sophomore at Baylor before declaring for the draft. He was named to the 2014 Big 12 All-Defensive Team. His diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, sent shockwaves throughout the NCAA community.
Austin is slated to enter an NBA free agent pool lacking talented big men. He is blind in one eye, but has a perimeter touch most teams would welcome in their front court. Austin shot 31 percent from downtown in two seasons at Baylor and his versatility putting the ball on the floor allowed him to do things like this, albeit against lesser college competition:
And this:
NBA commissioner Adam Silver did something special on draft night, selecting Austin in-between the 15th and 16th picks of the 2014 draft. It looks like the Bear will finally get his shot at making an NBA roster.
Here’s his full announcement:
