Malcolm Brogdon, a guard with the New York Knicks, who was signed to a non-guaranteed contract this offseason, abruptly announced his retirement on Wednesday. He was competing with Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews for the final roster spot. Coach Mike Brown's decision is now one-third easier.
Malcolm Brogdon helped the New York Knicks settle their decision as to who would get the final roster spot Wednesday. The former Sixth Man of the Year Award recipient decided to hang up his sneakers and retire.
He was in competition with Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews for the final roster spot. Now, it will come down to Shamet or Mathews by default.
Brogdon told ESPN in a statement that it was time to step away from the game. The decision was something the point guard had been thinking about recently and he finally made his decision, a week before the start of the NBA season.
According to ESPN, he informed team officials Wednesday.
“Today, I officially begin my transition out of my basketball career,” Brogdon said in his statement to ESPN, which was reported by the New York Post. “I have proudly given my mind, body, and spirit to the game over the last few decades. With the many sacrifices it took to get here, I have received many rewards.
“I am deeply grateful to have arrived to this point on my own terms and now to be able to reap the benefits of my career with my family and friends. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to all who have had a place in my journey.”
Brogdon also played for the Pacers, Celtics, Bucks, Wizards and Trail Blazers. He signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Knicks last month at the start of training camp. It was known that the three were competing for one roster spot.
Brogdon has looked good this preseason and was giving coach Mike Brown a reason to include him in the regular rotation.
Brogdon said just last week that he felt great. He has battled the injury bug in recent years, but that is not the case. It is unknown as to why he decided to retire a week before the started.
“I think people that haven’t done this have a lot of opinions about some of the greatest athletes in the world,” Brogdon said to the Post last week following a Knicks practice, “and I don’t think people actually understand what it’s like to go through this. I don’t think they actually understand what your body must feel like to play at this level for years and years. I don’t think they understand the wear and tear of this game.
“But when you sign up for this, you sign the contract and people are going to have opinions. You just, as a player, you gotta block that out because it doesn’t matter. You have to try to stay healthy, and when you’re healthy, dominate.”