Gonzaga forward Kaden Perry retires, cites ongoing 'back problems'

Gonzaga forward Kaden Perry, whose time in Spokane has been riddled with injuries, announced his retirement from basketball on Wednesday in an Instagram post.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound big man participated in offseason training with the Bulldogs, but ongoing back problems influenced his decision to step away from the program. 

"After much thought and consideration, I've realized I am unable to perform at the level needed to be a D1 athlete," Perry said on Instagram. "I will still be attending GU to earn my degree and start the next chapter in my life."

Perry, a former 4-star recruit in the Class of 2021, has dealt with back issues since his senior year at Battle Ground High School. His final season with the Tigers was cut short after he suffered multiple herniated discs. 

As a freshman at Gonzaga, Perry appeared in eight games before his back issues flared up during pre-game warmups against Tarleton State. He was eventually shut down and underwent another surgery for herniated discs. 

Perry missed the entire 2022-23 season, but was expected to return to the court this upcoming year as a reserve in the rotation. While he is no longer preparing for that role, Perry is grateful for the opportunity and experience provided to him by Gonzaga.

"It's been my dream ever since the 7th grade to play at Gonzaga and show the world what I could do," Perry said. "Unfortunately, life doesn't always follow a straight path and I got hurt my senior year of high school. I didn't know, what I thought would be another injury, would be a back problem that I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life."

Perry also showed appreciation for the encouragement he's received, while remaining optimistic about what the future holds. 

"I want to thank all my teammates, coaches, friends and family that have supported me through my entire basketball career," Perry said. "This isn't the way I thought things would go, but I believe God has a plan for everything."