[On August 18, 1991, I announced my retirement from the Boston Celtics.]
It was one of the happiest days of my life.
You must understand how bad my back condition was at that time.
For nearly 10 years, back problems had plagued me, and I couldn't take it anymore.
The pain was incessant, no matter what I did—standing, sitting, lying down, leaning forward—I couldn't get rid of it; it completely dominated my life.
Some days, I couldn't even bend down to pick up a ball, let alone shoot.
Some nights, I had to eat lying on the floor.
Even picking up my son Connor was excruciating.
The pain made it impossible for me to play as I wished, and I loathed myself at that time.
I don't know how my wife endured it with me for so many years; I myself found it incredible.
Perhaps that's why when I finally stood at the podium and loudly declared that it was all over, I felt a tremendous weight lifted off my shoulders.
