25 NBA players could retire at the end of the season, Let's acknowledge the many years of service to the fans with a slideshow.
Center Chris Andersen will be remembered as one of basketball’s more colorful figures. “The Birdman” has been a fan favorite wherever he has played and always able to make up for his offensive limitations with a never-ending supply of energy on the defensive side of the floor. However, Andersen is now 38 and likely in his final NBA season.
Nicknamed the “Brazilian Blur” during his prime, Leandro Barbosa has lost a step in recent years. Barbosa, who will turn 34 later this month, could be in the final year of his career with the Phoenix Suns.
After playing for nine different franchises in 14 seasons, Matt Barnes finds himself playing for his hometown Sacramento Kings at the age of 36. Barnes still receives a solid amount of playing time for his advanced NBA age, but don’t be shocked if the former UCLA standout chooses to end his career in the city he grew up in.
Regardless of whether he chooses to accept it or not, the professional basketball career of Chris Bosh is over. After suffering multiple blood clots, the Miami Heat simply will not clear the superstar to return to the court. Bosh has vowed to play again, but don’t expect it to happen. An 11-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, the power forward from Dallas has a had a fantastic career.
Although it feels long ago, there was a time when Vince Carter was one of the most exhilarating professional athletes on the planet to watch, let alone basketball players. That time has long passed for Carter, and the potential future Hall of Fame small forward appears to be in the midst of the final year of his career for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The final holdover from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s move from Seattle, Nick Collison has played in just one game this season. It would be surprising to say the least if Collison did not retire at the conclusion of the season.
One of the most deceptively skilled and athletic players in the NBA history, Boris Diaw can’t even crack the rotation in Utah for the Jazz. The French-born forward could choose to call it a career when the season comes to an end.
Although Mike Dunleavy has never quite lived up to the promise that made him the third overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the small forward has carved out a successful career in the NBA. That being said, Dunleavy is now 36 and signed with the Cavs in the offseason, a not-so-subtle attempt earn a ring before he retires.
The seventh overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, guard Randy Foye could be in the midst of his final NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets. Foye has played in just one game so far this year for Brooklyn.
Considering he is still an effective big man, Spurs center Pau Gasol would seem to be an unlikely candidate to retire at the end of the 2016-17 season. But Gasol has become more and more of a liability on the defensive side of the floor as he has aged. If the Spurs are able to win their sixth championship of the Gregg Popovich era this season, it would make all the sense in the world for Gasol to go out on top.
After considering retirement this past offseason, Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili decided to come back to San Antonio to make one last run at an NBA title. A two-time All-Star and four-time NBA champ, Ginobili is easily the greatest Argentinian-born player in NBA history.
A staple on the Heat roster since 2003, Udonis Haslem looks to be nearing the end of his playing days. The power forward has been part of all three Heat championship runs and is beloved by Miami fans and teammates alike. But at 36, Haslem’s best days are far behind him.
Now well past his prime, Brazilian center Nene Hilario may be playing his final year in the NBA for the Rockets. The 34-year-old receives limited playing time off of the bench in Houston.
A seven-time All-Star, Joe Johnson now finds himself coming off the bench for the Jazz. The 35-year-old Johnson signed a two-year deal to join Utah in the offseason, suggesting 2018 would be his final year in the NBA, but it would hardly be shocking if he chose to walk away from professional basketball at the end of this season.
One of nine players to have reached six consecutive NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers forward James Jones hardly receives any playing time at this point in his career. Expect the 36-year-old to hang up his sneakers if the Cavs are able to repeat as champions.
After a dazzling performance in the 2012 NBA Finals, Mike Miller has largely slipped into basketball obscurity. But the 36-year-old is still on an NBA roster with the Denver Nuggets, even if he barely receives any playing time. Expect Miller, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2001, to retire at the end of the season.
A former All-Star, Jameer Nelson is now a backup point guard for the Denver Nuggets. Nelson gets a good amount of playing time for Mike Malone’s squad, but at 34, he is obviously coming close to the end of his career.
There is no question Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest player in Dallas Mavericks history. The German-born power forward is a 13-time All-Star, four-time First-Team All-NBA player, and led the Mavs to their first and only NBA championship in 2011. That being said, it appears Father Time has finally caught up to the 38-year-old. Nowitzki is no longer the dominant force on offense he once was and can no longer stay on the floor consistently for Dallas. This could be Nowitzki’s final year in the NBA.
A 10-time All-Star, Clippers forward Paul Pierce is a surefire future Hall of Fame player. However, the 39-year-old is holding on to his NBA career by a thread, as his play today resembles nothing of the elite offensive force he once was. The former Celtics great is almost guaranteed to retire at the end of the season.
Prior to the 2016 NBA Finals, Cavs forward Richard Jefferson stated he would retire after the playoffs ended. Well, a championship victory changed his mind. Jefferson re-signed in the offseason with Cavs to chase another ring. At 36, this could be his final season, for real this time.
Nets forward Luis Scola has been playing professional basketball since the age of 15. However, Scola did not make the jump to the NBA until his late 20s and now could be playing his final year as a pro in Brooklyn. He will turn 37 in April.
The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2011, Jason Terry has had a superb career in the NBA. However, Terry is now 39 and no longer has the stamina to play long stretches during games. All signs point toward this being the final season for Terry, who has made the third-most three-point field goals in NBA history.
Now a bench player in Detroit, Slovenian point guard Beno Udrih is no longer a quality NBA player. The Pistons have been relying on Udrih more than they would like with Reggie Jackson out due to injury, and the results have not been pretty. Udrih’s NBA career could be coming to a close.
Center Anderson Varejao has simply not been the same player he was prior to tearing his Achilles tendon in 2014. A fan favorite in Cleveland, Varejao is now a bench player for the Golden State Warriors and receives sparse playing time. If the Dubs are able to make it back to the NBA Finals and emerge victorious, you can be assured that Varejao will choose to go out on top.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!