Steve Francis said he spoke to former Rockets back-court mate Cuttino Mobleyand confirmed The Post’s report he seriously was mulling retirement with an answer coming very shortly.
Mobley was supposed to meet with president Donnie Walsh and Knicks doctors Friday to review all the heart-testing results and make a decision, but some of the results weren’t to be available until Tuesday.
“It looks like he might (retire),” Francis told the Houston Chronicle. “It’s close. That’s the same ailment he has played his whole career, even here. It’s terrible. He didn’t sound too good today (Friday).”
Mobley, 33, failed his Knicks physical, but the Knicks approved the trade anyway because they obtained him more for his short-term contract that will clear cap space in 2010. Mobley went to see a handful of specialists. The Post and New York Times reported Mobley was tested by the renowned Dr. Barry Maron, the director of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the Minneapolis Heart Institute with whom Eddy Curry refused to take tests, prompting his trade from Chicago to the Knicks in 2005.
The Knicks diagnosed Mobley as having signs of the fatal heart disease that claimed the lives of Hank Gathers, Reggie Lewis and Jason Collier.
“It’s tough,” Francis said. “I know how much he loves playing basketball. I don’t know how he’d react. He’s close to a decision.”
Because this was a preexisting condition, Mobley’s contract may not be insured for a heart ailment and the Knicks would have to pay his $18 million pact.
Francis said Mobley would have thrived in coach Mike D’Antoni’s system.
“I thought he’d play better than I played in New York,” Francis said of his shoddy Knicks stint.