Basketball fans might remember the name Isaiah Austin.
Austin, a 7-foot-1 former Baylor Bear, broke the hearts of many basketball fans around the globe when it was revealed that his basketball career had to be put on hold, perhaps permanently, when he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome in 2014.
Austin was initially projected to be a late first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but a pre-draft physical found an abnormality in his heart.
Austin was given the chance to attend the 2014 NBA Draft by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who went on to make Austin a ceremonial draft pick between the 15th and 16th selections in the draft.
Now, just over two years later, Austin was told that he can resume his basketball career.
“Ever since the draft I’ve been getting checked by my doctor, and through those checkups, we’ve been monitoring my heart, making sure that nothing has changed, and he said that I am stable,” Austin said in an Instagram video. “I am cleared. I am about to be out here pursuing my dream. Ever since my doctors told me that I was cleared, it’s been in my mind — I want to go chase this. It’s always been my dream.
“At the same time, I’m a God-faring man, and I believe that everything happens in life for a reason, so why would God put it in my doctor’s heart to say that I was cleared if he didn’t want me to go and chase my dream and share my testimony with millions of people around the world.”
Austin averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game during his two seasons at Baylor.
Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, according to the Marfan Foundation. Connective tissue holds all the body’s cells, organs and tissue together and it plays an important role in helping the body grow and develop properly.
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