Former Trail Blazers and Heat center Meyers Leonard announced his retirement at the age of 33

Meyers Leonard released a statement on Sunday, announcing his retirement from professional basketball effective immediately.

"After finishing my season in Milwaukee, I knew I would never play basketball again," the statement read. "It was a difficult decision I didn't have to make - because my body made the choice for me."

"At first, I wasn't going to say anything. I thought people would understand over time. But I gradually realized that even though my body was telling me it was time to let it go, my heart wasn't ready."

"Learning to sing and write songs gave me the opportunity to look back on everything basketball has given me and realize that every goodbye is leading me to a better future. Leaving my hometown to go to the University of Illinois allowed me to meet the love of my life. Leaving college early to enter the NBA gave me the opportunity to take care of my entire family. Moving from Portland to Miami gave me the opportunity to stand on the stage of the Finals and play the best performance of my career."

"Today, leaving the NBA has given me the greatest gift in life - the opportunity to be the father I always wanted but never had. To be the father I never had, to go to sleep next to my beautiful wife every night and spend time with the most important person in my life."

"My love and gratitude for you is beyond anything you can imagine. Here's to the new chapter ahead!"

Meyers Leonard, 33, plays center and power forward and was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 11th pick in the first round in 2012. In his 13-year NBA career, he played 456 regular season games for the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

Leonard also played in 30 playoff games with the team, averaging 4.9 points, 3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.