Former Baylor standout Isaiah Austin has signed for Serbian side FMP, the affiliate club of Crvena Zvzeda Belgrade.
Austin, who played two years of college basketball for Baylor was considered a certain first-round prospect in the 2014 NBA draft until he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a disorder of the body’s connective tissues – a group of tissues that maintain the structure of the body and support internal organs and other tissues.
There is no cure for Marfan syndrome, which forced Austin to retire from playing in all forms of basketball. He said that he could no longer play basketball at a competitive level since the arteries in his heart were abnormally large, and there was too much risk of his heart rupturing if he continued to play.
The prodigy was unable to be drafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, but Commissioner Adam Silver invited the standout to attend the ceremony and in an emotional moment, Silver selected Austin as a personal pick of the NBA.
However, in 2016, Austin was cleared to continue playing basketball after a two-year stint away from the game due to the condition – and even though it isn’t in the NBA – Austin, now 23 signs with Adriatic League side FMP
“I have been blessed by the grace of God to receive a second chance at chasing my dream of playing basketball,” Austin said to Cassyathena.com. “Everything happens for a reason and I’m ready to share my testimony and journey with millions of people across the world.”
Next stop Belgrade 🙏🏽✌🏽️✈️
— Isaiah Austin (@IsaiahAustin) January 8, 2017
It is unclear what the details of Austin’s contract with the Belgrade club are. FMP are currently sitting tenth in the Adriatic League with a 5-11 record.
They next play Bosnian club Igokea on Tuesday night.
