A long career for a superstar is not always guaranteed in the NBA. Injuries, roster structures, and personal conduct issues have been known to prematurely end or dwindle many promising careers over time. But for just as many players who burned out early, there are ones that have enjoyed long and productive careers after reaching stardom. All good things must end however, and below are three players who stand a good chance of retiring after the final buzzer sounds on the 2014-2015 season.
Andre Miller – PG – Sacramento Kings
The 38 year old has been a mainstay in the league for 16 seasons now after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the eighth overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft. Miller has enjoyed stints with Cleveland, the L.A. Clippers, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland, Washington, and currently plays in Sacramento. He has appeared in every game in a season 10 times, and currently has missed just three games in his entire career due to injury. Miller was a member of the NBA All-Rookie team in 2000, and led the entire league in assists during the 2001-2002 season.
Miller holds career averages of 12.9 points and 6.7 assists per game to go along with 46 percent field goal shooting. He hasn’t been a regular starter since the 2010-2011 season, but he has still managed to log significant minutes as a primary backup guard, even as his production has steadily decreased over the past few seasons. Miller’s recent arrival to the Kings was at the behest of current coach George Karl, who is a huge fan of Miller. Even with the increase of his minutes to 22.2 per game since coming to Sacramento, Miller’s current averages of 5.8 points and 5.6 assists per game are a strong indication that his playing level is approaching retirement level, although it’s highly likely that Miller could provide a valuable veteran presence as a third option off the bench for George Karl for a few more seasons, especially when considering his health throughout his playing career.
Kevin Garnett – C – Minnesota Timberwolves
Now in his 20th season, the 38 year old Kevin Garnett is still one of the league’s most recognizable stars. After being drafted out of high school in 1995 by Minnesota, Garnett has gone on to have an illustrious and award-filled career, which includes 15 All-Star selections, an MVP award in 2004, and an NBA Championship in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics. Garnett is also a 12-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection.
Garnett holds career averages of 18.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, and has also averaged 35.0 minutes per game in 1,424 career appearances. Garnett’s return to Minnesota has gone as expected, with his minutes hovering around 20 per game as a starter, but he is averaging just 6.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. His arrival to Minnesota has been seen as an appropriate and ceremonial way for him to end his career, and he has made his goal of eventually owning the team after he retires a well known fact. Garnett is a fierce competitor, but one has to wonder what 20 years of playing down low in the NBA has done to his body at this point. Should he decide to return for one more full year in Minnesota next season, it will surely be his last.
Vince Carter – SG – Memphis Grizzlies
After a brilliant college career at North Carolina, Vince Carter was taken as the fifth pick overall by Golden State in the 1998 draft, and was traded to the Toronto Raptors shortly after. Since then, he has gone on to be named Rookie of the Year, win dunk contests, be named to eight All-Star teams, and provide several ridiculous highlight reel plays. Aside from his six seasons in Toronto, Carter has also spent time with the Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, and most recently, the Grizzlies.
Carter has career averages of 19.6 points per game and 44 percent field goal shooting. He had a solid and productive run during his three seasons in Dallas, but has taken a noticible decline since joining the Memphis Grizzlies this season. His current season averages of 5.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, in 16.1 game minutes are all career-lows, and he’s struggled with injuries this season as well. Carter has always been a player that has relied on his exsplosiveness and superior athletic ability to score, but has evolved into more of a perimeter shooter as he’s aged. Now in his 17th season, it appears that his tank is running low, although he still holds value as a savvy role player for a playoff team such as Memphis.
