Twitter is truly becoming a second home for the NBA. Players are using the social networking platform to connect with their fans, converse with each other, talk about the league and feel right at home making all kinds of announcements using their social media savvy. So it comes as no surprise really to hear about one of the big pro basketball players announcing his retirement from the NBA to the world. Sorry San Antonio, but it looks like T.J. Ford has decided it’s time to officially hang up his spurs.

T.J. Ford, guard for the San Antonio Spurs announced today that he will be retiring from the game and the NBA after eight years and he did it using Twitter. His retirement is probably for the best although it will leave many fans wondering what happened and what might have been for Ford. His career has been riddled with injuries including a spinal injury during his stint with the Milwaukee Bucks and a horrible collision from a foul while at Toronto that took him out of the game and most of the season in 2008. He’s been battling neck injuries since then and seems to have lost his edge, having had little impact with his play at both Indiana and San Antonio.

Most fans and friends are glad to see Ford leaving while he can still walk away. Literally. The guard has been plagued with injuries serious enough to have nearly been paralyzed twice in his career on the court. T.J. Ford’s short career reminds us that the game is seriously punishing and cruel. The sentiment on the social networks was mostly congratulatory and mixed with a bit of sadness and relief. At twenty-eight years old, T.J. has a long life ahead of him and right now he’s smart to step away while he’s ahead of the game.