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Though nobody has played in the NBA with a pacemaker, Hoiberg said that his aortic root -- which was dangerously enlarged when he found out a year ago during a routine life-insurance exam that it needed to be fixed -- was the biggest concern.
"Even though the risk of something serious happening is very low, there is a risk," Hoiberg said.
His wife, Carol, and his four children -- ages 8 and younger -- ultimately meant too much.
"They are the most important thing in the world to me, and I can't even imagine how nervous they would be every time I stepped on the floor," he said. "Not only during games, but also every day in practice. I just can't put my family through that."
He already gave his wife a huge scare last summer, when he fainted face-first on a hardwood floor at their home the day after the pacemaker was installed.
"I still think about that incident almost every day, and I think about the look on her face when I came to after being unconscious for two minutes," Hoiberg said. "I think about when I finally did come back, being in her arms and her saying, 'Don't leave me.'
"I just can't imagine what that must have been like for her."
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I saw Fred at his Chaska home about a week after the above-described incident and he was so weak that it was hard for him to speak and he could barely move. To see Fred's progress over the last nine months has been inspirational. The fact that Fred got himself in shape to play again is incredible. I played a few three on three games with him on my team during the past three months (we didn't miss too many shots....ok...Fred didn't miss too many) and he looked great. I guess right now everyone on the team is just happy for Fred's decision to stay with our organization. Now he can take his basketball knowledge upstairs and really continue to help build the team and help this franchise through his basketball knowledge and his leadership. Fred's wife, Carol and Fred's four children are a huge part of the organization already as are Fred's parents who routinely came to support the team even when Fred wasn't on the court. Last year ESPN.com wrote an article that said Fred Hoiberg may be the best shooter in the history of the NBA. When you lose such a talented teammate who opened things up so much for KG, it's a blow. But Freddy....and I know you're reading this because I've told you about this blog.....I'll still be seeing you at the Target center every day and I'll be knocking on your door in Chaska to get some of your BBQ ribs at least once a month!! I'm coming to your shooting camp too for some free throw consultations!!!
