Former Trail Blazer Joel Przybilla has retired from NBA basketball at the age of 34. The 7’1” center played for the Trail Blazers from 2004 to 2011, and again in the 2011-2012 season after a brief stint with the Charlotte Bobcats. Przybilla last played for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012-13. He now resides in the Milwaukee area, where he began his NBA career in 2000.

Ex-Gopher Joel Przybilla from Monticello retires after making nearly $45 million over 15 seasons in NBA, residing near Milwaukee. — Charley Walters (@Charley_Walters) August 24, 2014

Przybilla is fondly remembered in Portland for his tough style of play, his “got your back” attitude, and his most prominent nickname: The Vanilla Gorilla. Playing 13 NBA seasons (two college) is quite a feat and I am pleased to see that he was able to retire without destroying his body too badly, despite the physicality that defined him as a player.

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