Jalen Brunson reveals how he found out Malcolm Brogdon had decided to retire

Jalen Brunson had no idea Malcolm Brogdon wanted to retire

In an era where NBA stars are elongating their careers, Brogdon retired from basketball at just 32.

Either way, Brunson understands it’s not an easy decision to make and revealed how he found out about his teammate’s retirement.

“I found out the same way you guys did. It’s not an easy decision to make. For him to do that at this time, it’s kudos to him.

“… I have a lot of respect for him – played against him in college and pros,” Brunson told The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III.

Regardless of the reason, the Knicks now need to find a solid replacement for Brogdon. After all, the decision has weakened the Knicks’ bench ahead of the regular season.

Injuries played a role in Malcolm Brogdon’s retirement

Despite being a second-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brogdon carved out a nine-year career in the league.

At his peak, he was an immaculate player off the bench. However, injuries slowly but surely impacted the way he played on the court.

The biggest indicator was a steady decline in Brogdon’s shooting efficiency. So much so that he shot below the 30% mark this preseason.

In addition, it has been reported that Brogdon lost his hunger to compete on the hardwood. No amount of money can replace it and convince a player to continue their career in the league.