Nowitzki is a good answer. He himself regrets playing the last two seasons of his career.

Game of Zones showed it perfectly 

He’s gone on record saying he wonders if he should have played those last two years. Really jacked up his foot continuing to play and said it’s sometimes tough to play with his kids.

His knees literally didn’t work anymore. Looked like he was on stilts

Them ankle ligaments were made of spaghetti at that point.

That alley oop in the ASG tho

If I’ve never seen a star player live and I know it’s their final season I try to make it a point to go see them. I’m a Pacers fan so I went to Dirk’s last game in Indianapolis. It was painful to watch, he shot 7 or 8 shots and didn’t make any of them. He had one of the last possessions of the game and everyone in the arena wanted to see him make it. The crowd let out a collective groan when he missed the shot.

Vince Carter is a great example of a HOFer who did exactly that. He was literally on a team as a 40+ year old while 35+ year old Melo couldn’t get signed and it was all because teams liked Vince’s attitude more

His life was a mess at the end though, there was sickness and drama with his family plus rumors he was an alcoholic. He almost settled into a low minutes role when he went back to Philly but more than anything else the life he lived, his daughter being sick, and his marriage on the rocks is what ended it.

Those years in Seattle and Orlando were beyond forgettable

yup, and Hakeem a Rocket

And Jordan a Bull instead of a Wizard

I know Bron is older, but Taj Gibson still being in the league is much more insane.

TIL

Whoa, actually insane

Wait where he at now?

i remember being annoyed his ass was on the 2k16 okc team that i always used to play with in college bc i love russ, wild he’s still at it a decade later. props to him honestly

also bballref says his nicknames are hard hat & lunch pail which are lowkey derogatory lmfao

Hot take: No. He was All-NBA in 09 then on 2 legit contenders in 10 & 11. If one of those years go better for him/team and he’s got another Finals appearance or title, it’s worth it. He retired at the best time.

Celtics and Cavs Shaq was brutal but that was only his last 2 years, Suns Shaq still was getting it done, didn’t overstay his welcome at all IMO

IIRC he injured himself running down the court when he was on the Celtics in like 2010 or 2011.

Kind of crazy how much medical science has progressed since then. Yes you still have guys who are shells of themselves but it used to be a career ender, and you have guys like KD, Klay, & Dame still playing.

Yes. And he did score 60 his last game but took about 50 shots to get them lol people conveniently keep that part out.

I remember every time he wasn’t in the game he was laying on the floor getting treatment on his back and wrapped with heating pads. Dude looked absolutely miserable.

This mfer been washed for a decade

He’s only 35

You didn’t enjoy Toronto Raptor Hakeem Olajuwon?

He just wanted nothing to do with Deloitte Dejounte Murray I believe.

They don’t love you like that. You think you Kobe?

I agree but also… I was at his last game in the Garden when the fans basically made Doc bring him off the bench at the end of the game, and he drilled a three - it was the loudest I’ve ever heard the Garden and I’ve been there for multiple playoff games including the one when Jaylen Brown hit the ridiculous corner three to send it to OT against the Pacers in ‘24.

He was beyond washed by the end.

Once the roster blew up after his Achilles, he probably should’ve called it but I can also completely understand not wanting to go out like that after the career he had.

Those Laker teams are awful like they’re starting center was like Robert Sacre

My beloved

Duncan was hella old, but he still retired before he could become a detriment. Spurs we’re 67-15 his last year

The lucky ones stick around too long. I’m sure there’s thousands who would have played longer if they could get a contract

This. The 2 that come to my mind as a Spurs fan that left before things got too ugly were Timmy and the Admiral.
Both were definitely much worse their final season than their typical HoF levels, but both were still above average players by all advanced metrics, still putting up per 36 double doubles with ~3 stocks, still played 60+ games and 1500+ mins, only ever played for 1 franchise and Robinson’s last game was winning another NBA Championship while Timmy’s last game was putting up ¹⁹⁄₅ on 57% TS in 34 mins in a 2nd round game 6 loss to the KD/Russ/Ibaka/Adams Thunder. Both walked away with all respect intact.

George Gervin was also pretty good during his last NBA season (85-86 Bulls. Was only 33, put up 16 PPG while playing all 82 games and 2000+ mins, filling in as a starter for 22 y/o MJ from his broken foot) compared to an average player but had developed a bad cocaine habit and struggled with a reduced role. He played a season in Italy (26 PPG), briefly retired all together and ended up playing his final season of his career at 38 in Liga ACB where he was still an elite offensive player (puttimg up anywhere from 23.4 to 28 PPG on ~55% FG) while playing just their second half of the season’s games to keep them from being relegated.

Oh boy, here come the stans

Hey P, they said I gotta come off the bench 

I mean, during his time with the wiz before he got injured he was putting in work. 

He moved around a lot but he did not play poorly

One of the reasons the Spurs got the 1st pick for Tim Duncan. An epic tank job led by the once-human highlight film.

Chris looked fine for the Spurs last year. Super dependable, maybe should’ve hung it up after that season

That was the idea though. They had a veteran presence that they could groom as a front office guy on a minimum salary.

He didn’t stick around too long, he worked with the team to transition into coaching while occupying a roster spot they frankly didn’t need.

For a good few years too

Ended with a ring tho 😂

I’m enjoying late career Westbrook tbh, he’s still fun to watch and can have an impact on good nights. 

I disagree. He accepted a lesser role that fitted more his ageing body. I think he had a nice career end compared to AI or Kobe

To be fair, he was resigned those extra years to be a veteran leader and not necessarily to play much.