Average age of retirement for NBA players is 30 years old. It’s a difficult reality for many of these athletes that their careers will end before they reach the prime of their lives. Many don’t know what to do with themselves after basketball and struggle to find another job or passion outside of it. But there are some success stories and lessons learned from those who have retired and gone on to lead successful post-career lives.
Retiring from the NBA is a big decision for any player
It’s not like any other job you’ll ever have, where you can work until you can’t or get laid off. Retiring from the NBA means you’re giving up your identity-your dream-to do something else with your life. But it doesn’t have to be that way for everyone.
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The average age of an NBA player who retires is 30 years old, but this doesn’t mean that’s what’s best for every player.
Retirement can be tough to adjust to, but it’s important not to rush into making decisions – The Career and Retirement of Kobe Bryant.
It’s not uncommon for athletes to retire in their early 30s, but this doesn’t mean that it’s the best time to do so. Retiring from the NBA can be tough to adjust to in some cases, which is why it’s best not to rush into making decisions about when it’s time. The Career and Retirement of Kobe Bryant provides insight into what this process can be like. He retired at 34 years old after 20 seasons in the NBA – but he made sure he had other opportunities lined up before he left basketball. He was able to leverage his fame and celebrity status by entering into business ventures, launching a successful fashion line, and eventually winning an Oscar award for his work on the film “Dear Basketball.”
Some players end up going back into basketball after retiring and playing in Europe or Asia
Some players end up going back into basketball after retiring and playing in Europe or Asia. The best example of this is Tracy McGrady, who retired in the NBA when he was 28 years old and played for seven more years.
- Players should know that their worth doesn’t stop once they retire from the NBA – there are plenty of opportunities out there for them!
- Scottie Pippen – retired in 1994
Scottie Pippen is one of the rare examples of someone who retired from the NBA in his 30s. The former Chicago Bull, who retired in 1994 at 35 years old, had no idea what he wanted to do next after he hung up his sneakers. He decided to go back to school and earned his college degree during these years.
He then went into coaching, which gave him a sense of purpose again. He may not have lived out that dream as an NBA player, but he was able to live it through others as a coach. Not every player who retires will come out with something they’re passionate about right away – Scottie Pippen provides an example of how taking some time off can actually help you.
- Dennis Rodman – retired in 1995
Another player, Dennis Rodman, retired in 1995 at 36 years old. The former Chicago Bull was dealing with depression and couldn’t seem to find the motivation to do anything else.
He later went back on tour as a professional wrestler, which turned out to be quite fruitful. This wasn’t the first time he dabbled in wrestling – he had done some on-and-off stints with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) before that.
While this didn’t provide him with the same exact opportunity he had as an NBA player, it was another avenue for him to let his personality shine through.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – retired in 1989
- Charles Barkley – retired in 2000
Charles Barkley retired in 2000 at 40 years old and had a lot of personal struggles when he was leaving the NBA.
He had been dealing with depression and weight problems for years, which set him up for a long struggle after he retired from basketball.
But this doesn’t have to be the case for every player. In September 2012, Barkley was honored with a bronze statue in his hometown of Leeds, Alabama. The statue recognizes his contributions to basketball and is a reminder that there are other opportunities out there for players who retire from the NBA early.
- Karl Malone – retired in 2004
Karl Malone is another example of an athlete who retired from the NBA in their 30s – but he didn’t retire completely. He was 38 years old when he called it quits with the Utah Jazz, but he continued to play professionally until his 42nd birthday.
This was because he wanted to ensure that he could be there for his kids and grandkids. He wanted to experience life outside of basketball before making any decisions about what to do next with his life.
Malone would eventually go on to list himself as an “artist-in-residence” at Louisiana Tech University, where he can share his wisdom with students who are looking for lessons learned over the course of his long career.
Conclusion
It’s a difficult reality for many of these athletes that their careers will end before they reach the prime of their lives. Many don’t know what to do with themselves after basketball and struggle to find another job or passion outside of it. But there are some success stories and lessons learned from those who have retired and gone on to lead successful post-career lives. If you’re an NBA player staring down retirement, take note: your worth doesn’t stop once you retire from the league – there are plenty of opportunities out there for them! The best way to ensure a fulfilling life outside the court is by having something in place as soon as possible so when time comes, you’ll be ready. Whether this means going back into coaching like Scott.
