Artis Gilmore, Contemplating Retirement, Is Waived by Bulls

CHICAGO — Veteran center Artis Gilmore, who is contemplating retirement, was put on waivers Thursday by the Chicago Bulls, a team official said.

“Artis is debating retirement and has asked us to waive him, thus keeping his options open for a possible return to the NBA at a later date if he should decided not to retire,” said Jerry Krause, the team’s vice president for operations.

If Gilmore retires without waivers, he would be ineligible to return to the National Basketball Assn. for one season.

“Artis has had a great career, a 17-year run as one of the game’s finest and classiest players,” Krause said. “His wishes are paramount to us. This is the way he has chosen to leave the Bulls.”

A replacement for Gilmore on the Chicago roster was not announced.

Gilmore, 38, played 24 games this season, averaging 4 points, 2 rebounds and 16 minutes. He lost his starting job to Dave Corzine.

Chicago traded the 7-foot 2-inch Gilmore to San Antonio in 1982 for Corzine, Mark Olberding and cash. He was acquired from the Spurs in June for a second-round draft pick.

In 11 seasons in the NBA, Gilmore has averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The former Jacksonville star broke into professional basketball with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Assn. in 1971. He spent five years with the Colonels, six years with the Bulls--who paid Kentucky $1.1 million for Gilmore in the ABA dispersal draft--and five years in San Antonio, before returning to Chicago.