Orlando Magic forward Garrity retires

MIAMI (Reuters) - Orlando Magic forward Pat Garrity announced his retirement from the NBA on Thursday.

"As a professional athlete, I have always been aware that the time would come for me to begin another chapter in my life," Garrity said on the NBA's website ( www.nba.com ).

"That time has come and I look forward to the exciting challenges that lie ahead."

A first round pick (19th overall) by Milwaukee in the 1998 NBA draft, Garrity was traded to Orlando from the Phoenix Suns the following year and spent the rest of his career in Florida.

In his 10 years in the NBA Garrity played in 552 regular season games averaging 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Ken Ferris)