Are there any current or past NBA players who had the disease while playing? Anybody here have any idea on what kind of impact it will/could have on a career? I'm thinking it is negligible since he is a Top 6 pick for sure (?)...
It's really not a big deal. If watched closely and taken care of, living with Diabetes doesn't affect you physically. I have had diabetes for 15 years and played competive sports the whole time. Granted, not on the NBA level night in and night out, but he will have the luxury of having doctors, trainers, etc always by his side helping him. There have been many athletes with diabetes including Ty Cobb, Joe Frazier, Arthur Ashe, Olympic Swimmer Gary Hall Jr, Buster Douglas, Chris Dudley, Catfish Hunter, Jackie Robinson, Ron Santo, and Art Shell to name a few. So, to answer your question, IMO it should weigh very little on a team's decision to draft or not to draft Morrison.
There was a good OTL segment specifically covering this aspect of Morrison's life. The dude is a straight up soldier, they showed him injecting himself in the gut with insullin during timeouts. He's even gone as far to say that the diabetes has helped him because it has made him disciplined in his diet and daily routine whereas he might not be that way if he didnt have diabetes.
I would hope the Rockets take an extra scoop of due diligence before pulling the trigger. As a diabetic I know how this insidious disease affects eyesight, stamina and other organs such as the kidneys and heart. The effects may not show up this year or next but could by mid-career -- or not. Actually, my biggest problem with Morrison is that he forces McGrady to play SG as well as to cover the toughest perimeter defensive assignment. This will not help to preserve McGrady's aching back.
The reason to go for him or not will not be "diabetes" related. All of the stuff you say is true for someone who has the disease and does not take care of Diet, Medicine and exercise- all three areas anyone, leave alone a guy whose millions will depend on his playing ball, will normally address. Let us not forget that in recent times we have had 2 athletes who have played with just one kindney and done well! If anything it will make him more motivated
