In retirement, Matt Knight no longer has to worry about another dreaded phone call he's been forced to make too often during his NBL career.
"I know (wife) Sherelle's not going to miss the calls where I say, 'hey love, guess what? I'm injured again'," a tearful Knight said on Monday.
The Perth Wildcats veteran and three-time NBL championship winner has retired immediately amid fears for his health after a long list of concussion injuries.
The 32-year-old was set to quit at the end of the season but he has fast-tracked those plans after another head knock last week at training.
Knight was ruled out of last Friday's clash with the Sydney Kings after suffering headaches from a hit by an elbow during the week, having already been struck in the face twice in games this season.
"It was a pretty easy decision in the end to walk away," he told reporters.
"I just knew I can't do it anymore. I had to start thinking long term. I would have loved to have been part of the whole season, but I'm happy with the decision.
"I just can't do it to my body anymore."
Concerns around his well-being can be traced back to 2011 when he was carried from the court unconscious after his head was slammed in a fall during a game.
In 2014, he suffered two bouts of concussion in quick succession, and missed part of last season's finals series win over Illawarra due to a head knock.
Knight, who has also recently battled shoulder problems and was playing this season with a fractured cheekbone and thumb, almost retired at the end of last season over fears for his health but was cleared to play in 2017-18.
He won NBL championships in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and will end his career with averages of 11.9 points and seven rebounds per game.
"It's every player's dream to win a championship. I've been fortunate enough to win three in my time," Knight said.
Coach Trevor Gleeson said the Wildcats wouldn't have won their three titles without Knight.
"He does things that don't turn up on the stats sheet. He's one of the best screeners, one of the best defenders," Gleeson said.
