They Retired And YOU Didn't Even Notice...
- Joel Piton
- Sep 2
- 10 min read
Every year, the spotlight shines on the superstars—but what about the players you grew up watching? The ones who were always there—starting, contributing, or providing that much needed spark off the bench—until one day they just weren’t? Some fade quietly out of the league, without farewell tours or viral goodbye moments. One season they’re logging heavy minutes, the next they’re bouncing around overseas, and before you know it…they’re gone.
Let's take a look at those players. The ones who may have defined some of your basketball memories, who might’ve even been a beast on 2K or the reason you tuned in to watch a random Tuesday night matchup. They didn’t retire with the fanfare, but their careers still meant something. Today, we’re breaking down the journeys of these overlooked names, how their careers unfolded, and why their quiet exits deserve a little more recognition. Are you ready for the nostalgia? Because I am.
Joe Harris — SG
Career Stats - 10.3 PPG | 3.0 RPG | 1.6 APG | 47.9 FG%
One of the league’s premier sharpshooters of the past decade, Joe Harris quietly stepped away at just 32 years old after a short-lived stint as an off-the-bench sniper in Detroit. A former Three-Point Contest champion, Harris twice led the NBA in three-point percentage, knocking down threes at a staggering 47% clip in his prime. At his peak, he was a 14-point-per-game scorer who carved out his reputation as a lethal weapon in Brooklyn’s backcourt, spacing the floor for All-Stars while developing into a reliable starter. Though many fans believed he had more left in the tank, Harris opted to call it a career. His exit may have been quiet, but his impact as one of the game’s most consistent and efficient marksmen over the last 10 years is undeniable.
Michael Carter Williams — PG
Career Stats - 10.2 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 4.3 APG | 40.2 FG%
The former Rookie of the Year burst onto the scene in Philadelphia, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds as an oversized point guard who looked like a future star. At 6’6”, Carter-Williams used his frame to finish inside, disrupt passing lanes defensively, and rebound like a forward, quickly becoming the Sixers’ third-leading scorer on a struggling roster. But just as his career seemed to be gaining momentum, injuries derailed him. A torn labrum in his left hip marked the beginning of a downward trend, and after his trade to Chicago, his efficiency cratered. In his later stops, MCW averaged just six points per game while struggling to find a role, eventually fading into a below-average backup guard. His career stands as one of the clearest examples of how quickly promise can fade in the NBA.
Kemba Walker — PG
Career Stats - 19.3 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 5.3 APG | 41.8 FG%
For a stretch in Boston, Kemba Walker was one of the most formidable point guards in basketball. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds at his peak, dazzling Charlotte with his shifty handles and clutch shot-making. But after two solid seasons with the Celtics, his career took a steep decline. Chronic knee issues derailed what could’ve been a storybook stint in his hometown of New York.
Despite logging decent minutes, the Knicks let him go after just 37 games.
From there, Walker had a brief stint in Dallas before finishing his playing career overseas in France. Eventually, he transitioned into coaching—fittingly with the team where he played his best basketball. From his NCAA heroics at UConn to his electric rise in the NBA, Kemba’s career was stellar, even if injuries forced it to end earlier than fans hoped.
Jeremy Lin — PG
Career Stats - 11.6 PPG | 2.8 RPG | 4.3 APG | 43.3 FG%
The “Linsanity” era is officially over. Lin, the Harvard grad who took over prime-time television in 2012 as an undrafted bucket-getter for the Knicks, quietly stepped away from pro basketball after bouncing around the globe in recent years. Over the last six seasons, he suited up in the CBA, G League, P.League+, and the TBL, continuing to hoop long after his NBA days ended. A devastating injury in Brooklyn cut short what could have been another half-decade of strong NBA play. Still, Lin carved out a remarkable legacy—he flaunts an NBA championship ring from his stint with Toronto, and more importantly, he became one of the most impactful modern figures in Asian-American hoops history. Undrafted to unforgettable, his story was one of the league’s most inspiring.
Bojan Bogdanovic — SF
Career Stats - 15.6 PPG | 3.6 RPG | 1.7 APG | 46.0 FG%
Just two seasons removed from averaging 20+ points per game, Bojan Bogdanovic quietly stepped away from the league after failing to secure a starting role in New York. Recurring foot injuries cut short what was still a highly productive career, leaving many to wonder how much more he could’ve given if healthy. Easily the best Croatian player since Drazen Petrovic, Bogdanovic carved out his reputation as a pure scorer. A career 15-point-per-game player across multiple franchises, he wasn’t the most athletic or the tallest forward at 6’7”, but his shot IQ and craft made him a constant threat. A near 40% three-point shooter, Bogdanovic stretched defenses and delivered as an underrated sniper night in and night out. His scoring punch and steady professionalism will be missed, even if his retirement didn’t make headlines.
Avery Bradley — SG
Career Stats - 11.0 PPG | 2.8 RPG | 1.7 APG | 43.4 FG%
In his prime, Avery Bradley was the definition of a two-way guard. At just 22 years old, he earned All-Defensive Team honors in 2013, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier on-ball defenders. But Bradley wasn’t just a defensive menace—he was also a reliable scorer during his tenure in Boston, playing a crucial role in leading a young Celtics squad to the Conference Finals alongside Isaiah Thomas.
After leaving Boston in 2017, Bradley’s career became more nomadic, as he suited up for six different franchises over the following years. His last NBA run came with the Los Angeles Lakers before quietly calling it quits. While his playing days are over, Bradley hasn’t stepped away from the game entirely—he now serves as the Vice President of Player Development for the Utah Jazz. It’s a fitting role for a player who built his reputation on discipline, defense, and leadership.
Gorgui Dieng — C
Career Stats - 7.3 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 1.3 APG | 49.6 FG%
One of the league’s most dependable big men in the mid-2010s, Gorgui Dieng carved out a decade-long career as a steady presence in the paint. The former NCAA champion from Senegal became Minnesota’s anchor at center, leading the team in defensive usage rating from 2015 to 2017. Dieng wasn’t flashy, but he did everything well: he had a reliable midrange jumper, the strength to back down defenders, and the rim protection to send shots flying. While he never made All-Star noise, Dieng’s consistency earned him respect across the league. After later stints with Memphis, Atlanta, and a return to San Antonio, he quietly stepped away from the NBA at just 33 years old.
Nemanja Bjelica — PF
Career Stats - 7.6 PPG | 4.6 RPG | 1.8 APG | 46.6 FG%
Drafted in 2010 but suiting up in the NBA five years later, Bjelica came in as an older, more seasoned rookie after being named EuroLeague MVP in 2015. The 6’10” power forward immediately found his niche as a stretch four with a sniper’s touch, spacing the floor and bringing poise to young Minnesota rosters. He later carved out a steady role in Sacramento, providing three-point shooting and rebounding as a rotational piece. His crowning achievement came in 2022, when he played a valuable role off the bench for the Golden State Warriors’ championship run. Bjelica may not have been a star, but he closed his NBA career on top—a fitting capstone for one of Europe’s most decorated players.
Otto Porter Jr. — SF
Career Stats - 10.3 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 1.5 APG | 47.7 FG%
The third overall pick in 2013, Otto Porter Jr. quietly put together a solid career as one of the league’s most reliable “pace and space” wings. A Georgetown standout, Porter peaked in Washington in 2017, averaging 14 points per game while shooting a blistering 44% from three. Though he spent much of his career on underdeveloped teams, his consistency as a 40% career shooter from deep made him a valuable piece wherever he went. Porter’s career highlight came alongside Nemanja Bjelica in Golden State, where he contributed to the Warriors’ 2022 championship run. Retiring relatively young at 31, Porter left the game without individual accolades but with a reputation as one of the most dependable sharpshooting forwards of his era.
Jeremy Lamb — SG
Career Stats - 10.1 PPG | 3.6 RPG | 1.6 APG | 43.9 FG%
Jeremy "Fly Guy" Lamb carved out a decade-long career as a steady rotational player and complementary scorer. He suited up alongside some of the league’s biggest names: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker, Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, and more—always filling the gaps as a dependable role player. At his peak, Lamb averaged 15 points per game and even finished top ten in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2018.
The former NCAA champion made his living in the midrange, thriving on 8–16 foot pull-ups and slashing finishes near the rim. His most iconic moment came in 2019, when he hit a miraculous half-court game-winner against the Raptors that remains one of the decade’s most unforgettable shots. After a brief G League stint, Lamb quietly closed the book on his career at just 32 years old. While he never became a star, his knack for timely scoring and consistency made him a valuable piece for multiple playoff caliber squads.
Aron Baynes — C
Career Stats - 6.0 PPG | 4.6 RPG | .8 APG | 48.9 FG%
The Australian big man was never the flashiest player on the floor, but Aron Baynes steadily developed into one of the NBA’s most reliable interior presences. Over the course of his career, he expanded his game by adding a three-point jumper, became an above-average rebounder for a bench player, and provided toughness in the paint wherever he went. His peak came during his stint with Phoenix in 2020, where his expanded offensive arsenal turned him into a legitimate threat off the bench. Though never a household name, Baynes carved out an impressive eight-year NBA run, highlighted by his role as an NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. After returning to his homeland to finish out his playing days, he officially called it quits in 2024, leaving behind a career defined by hard work, steady improvement, and unshakable toughness.
Blake Griffin — PF
Career Stats - 19.0 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 4.0 APG | 49.3 FG%
A six-time All-Star and former walking highlight reel, Blake Griffin may have some serious Hall of Fame consideration. His powerhouse dunks turned L.A. into "Lob City" and for a stretch, he was one of the league's best power forwards. But injuries caught up fast and by the time he walked away, his last meaningful minutes had come as a role player off the bench. Griffin left behind a reminder of how fast superstardom can fade.
Victor Oladipo — SG
Career Stats - 16.9 PPG | 4.5 RPG | 3.9 APG | 43.6 FG%
The second overall pick in 2013, Victor Oladipo entered the league as a hyper-athletic shooting guard with a silky jumper and relentless defensive chops. He hit his peak in Indiana, his college homeland, where he blossomed into a two-time All-Star and an All-Defensive First Team selection, becoming one of the NBA’s elite two-way guards. But Oladipo’s career trajectory was altered in 2021 after a devastating quadriceps tendon surgery in his right leg. Struggles with recurring injuries meant he could never regain his explosive form, and when he did see the floor, he was a shadow of his prime self. In 2023, he chose to shut it down for good. Today, Oladipo looks to the broadcast booth for his next chapter—a fitting new lane for one of the most dynamic players of his era.
Ish Smith — PG
Career Stats - 7.1 PPG | 2.4 RPG | 3.8 APG | 42.9 FG%
The definition of a journeyman, Ish Smith set an NBA record by suiting up for 13 different franchises across his 14-year career. Known for his blazing speed and ability to bring energy off the bench, Smith was often the guard struggling teams turned to in hopes of finding stability. While he wasn't an All-Star by any means and never posted gaudy stats, his professionalism and adaptability kept him in demand year after year. Fittingly, his career ended on the highest possible note: celebrating as an NBA champion with Denver in 2023. After years of bouncing around the league, Smith finally found the ultimate reward—a ring. After a brief stint with Charlotte, Smith secured the all-time record and called it quits.
Austin Rivers — PG
Career Stats - 8.5 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 2.1 APG | 41.9 FG%
A former Duke standout, Austin Rivers never collected major accolades during his NBA career, but he still pieced together an 11-year run across multiple franchises. A combo guard with an elite dribble package, Rivers could beat defenders off the bounce, finish at the rim, or pull up comfortably from midrange. Early on, his game leaned heavily on isolation scoring, but over time he adapted into a streaky yet serviceable three-point shooter and an off-ball threat who could push the pace in transition.
Still, Rivers often drew criticism for his defense, turnover tendencies, and occasional questionable decision-making. As defenses adjusted, his effectiveness waned, and he ultimately became more of a bench player than a difference-maker. Even so, Rivers carved out a respectable career as a role player, consistently finding opportunities on playoff rosters. Since his playing days wound down, he has transitioned smoothly into broadcasting.
John Wall — PG
Career Stats - 18.7 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 8.9 APG | 43.0 FG%
A five-time All-Star, John Wall was one of the premier point guards of the 2010s. Known for his blazing speed and flashy playmaking, Wall was also one of the league’s best distributors, finishing top three in assists from 2015 to 2017 averaging more than 10 dimes a night. He could glide to the rim and finish above it, crowned the 2014 Slam Dunk Champion, and also earned All-Defensive Team honors for his ability to disrupt opposing guards.
Wall’s resume is solid by any measure, but injuries and contract issues began to derail his career. After a stint in Houston and a lengthy contract lockout, he didn’t suit up again until two years later with the Clippers—and by that point, he wasn’t the same player. Last month, Wall officially announced his retirement, opting to transition into broadcasting. Though his exit didn’t come with much fanfare, his prime remains unforgettable: one of the fastest, flashiest guards of his generation.
These players didn't get to leave the game with a farewell tour—or even true respect, but their impact on the NBA—and on fans—remains undeniable. From All-Star caliber peaks to quiet consistency late in their careers, these are the guys that held teams together, and their careers deserve to be remembered just as much as the legends. They may not be lacing them up in the spotlight anymore, but they’re a part of basketball history all the same.
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Thanks for reading!
Joel Piton
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