Just two weeks ago, during the Knicks’ preseason trip to Abu Dhabi for two exhibitions, Malcolm Brogdon made no secret of his expectations for what his role might be once training camp ends and the opener arrives.
Brogdon, 32 and the Sixth Man of the Year in the 2022-23 campaign, wanted to not only make the Knicks’ team — coming off a competition with Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews for the final spot — but also carve out a spot in the rotation.
But on Wednesday afternoon, a week before the opener, Brogdon suddenly decided to retire, he told ESPN in a statement. It was something Brogdon — the Knicks’ only other option for a true point guard outside of superstar Jalen Brunson — had considered, according to the outlet, and he reportedly informed team officials about it on Wednesday.
“Today I officially begin my transition away from my basketball career,” Brogdon said in his statement to ESPN. “I have proudly given my mind, body and spirit to the game over the past decades. Thanks to the many sacrifices it took to get here, I have received many rewards.
“I am deeply grateful to have gotten to this point on my own terms and to now be able to reap the rewards of my career with my family and friends. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has had a place in my journey.”
Brogdon, a former second-round pick in 2016, also played for the Pacers, Celtics, Bucks, Wizards and Trail Blazers, and he signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Knicks last month at the start of training camp. He has suffered numerous injuries throughout his career, but Brogdon said last week that he is feeling good. It’s unclear what exactly led to his decision to retire so close to the season.
“I think people who have never done this have a lot of opinions about some of the greatest athletes in the world,” Brogdon said last week after a Knicks practice, “and I don’t think people really understand what it means to experience that. I don’t think they really understand what your body must feel like to play at that 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. As a player, you just have to block that out because it doesn’t matter. You have to try to stay healthy, and when you’re healthy, dominate.”
Last year, Brogdon appeared in 24 games – with 13 starts – for the Wizards, and he logged 51 minutes in the Knicks’ four playoff games, going 5 of 17 from the field and recording 17 points.
