10 NBA Players Who Need To Retire

10 NBA Players Who Need To Retire

By Court Zierk

July 22, 2014

10 NBA Players Who Need To Retire

Greg Oden — This is a sad list, full of players who were once great, players who never were, and players who are trying to cash in a paycheck for as long as teams are willing to write them. Whatever their path to where they currently are, they all share one thing; they all need to retire while they still have an ounce of dignity left.

This is a sad list, full of players who were once great, players who never were, and players who are trying to cash in a paycheck for as long as teams are willing to write them. Whatever their path to where they currently are, they all share one thing; they all need to retire while they still have an ounce of dignity left.

10. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins

10. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins — I think Perkins has been the worst player in the league for at least two years. He offers no tangible benefit to his team at this point besides an intimidating snarl. He is slow, he can’t shoot, he can’t dribble. All he does is take up space and grab a rebound if it lands directly in his hands. Yet, for some reason Scotty Brooks continues to play him. Time to hang it up. Oh, and Perkins should hang it up too.

I think Perkins has been the worst player in the league for at least two years. He offers no tangible benefit to his team at this point besides an intimidating snarl. He is slow, he can’t shoot, he can’t dribble. All he does is take up space and grab a rebound if it lands directly in his hands. Yet, for some reason Scotty Brooks continues to play him. Time to hang it up. Oh, and Perkins should hang it up too.

9. Udonis Haslem

Udonis Haslem

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9. Udonis Haslem

Udonis Haslem — Haslem has had a long and solid career in Miami, and he will go down as one of the all time greats of that franchise. However, he rarely sees playing time anymore, and is a shell of his former self. He just signed a two-year contract extension with the Heat, so although he won’t be retiring anytime soon, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t.

Haslem has had a long and solid career in Miami, and he will go down as one of the all time greats of that franchise. However, he rarely sees playing time anymore, and is a shell of his former self. He just signed a two-year contract extension with the Heat, so although he won’t be retiring anytime soon, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t.

8. Richard Jefferson

Richard Jefferson

8. Richard Jefferson

Richard Jefferson — Jefferson has been on a steady decline since his days in San Antonio. Despite an uptick last season, which was really only because he was on a really bad Jazz team, the good people of Utah will tell you that his stats were very deceiving. He just isn’t that good anymore. He isn’t efficient from the field, and he has clearly lost a step. If anyone can revive a career, it is the Dallas Mavericks, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

Jefferson has been on a steady decline since his days in San Antonio. Despite an uptick last season, which was really only because he was on a really bad Jazz team, the good people of Utah will tell you that his stats were very deceiving. He just isn’t that good anymore. He isn’t efficient from the field, and he has clearly lost a step. If anyone can revive a career, it is the Dallas Mavericks, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

7. Jason Terry

Jason Terry

7. Jason Terry

Jason Terry — Jason “the jet” Terry was once a premier sixth-man in the NBA. His days with the Mavericks were clearly his glory years, and I can still picture him running down the court, arms extended like a bird in flight. Now, he is just old, coming off of knee surgery and stuck in Sacramento. There really is no upside to him continuing to play besides cashing his checks.

Jason “the jet” Terry was once a premier sixth-man in the NBA. His days with the Mavericks were clearly his glory years, and I can still picture him running down the court, arms extended like a bird in flight. Now, he is just old, coming off of knee surgery and stuck in Sacramento. There really is no upside to him continuing to play besides cashing his checks.

6. Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin

6. Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin — The once overall No. 1 pick is now just an oft-injured, mediocre role player on an equally mediocre team. He has long played the role of defensive intimidator, but another abbreviated season, cut short due to injury should have Martin considering hanging it up.

The once overall No. 1 pick is now just an oft-injured, mediocre role player on an equally mediocre team. He has long played the role of defensive intimidator, but another abbreviated season, cut short due to injury should have Martin considering hanging it up.

5. Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups

5. Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups — This one pains me. I am the biggest Chauncey fan on the planet, which is why I hate to see him look so old on the court. I hope he doesn’t decide to make one last run with another team because I just couldn’t bear to watch. I hope he instead decides to retire, and accept a position in the Nuggets’ organization, and return home for good. The Nuggets would be foolish to miss out on this chance to bring home Denver’s most beloved athlete.

This one pains me. I am the biggest Chauncey fan on the planet, which is why I hate to see him look so old on the court. I hope he doesn’t decide to make one last run with another team because I just couldn’t bear to watch. I hope he instead decides to retire, and accept a position in the Nuggets’ organization, and return home for good. The Nuggets would be foolish to miss out on this chance to bring home Denver’s most beloved athlete.

4. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett

4. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett — Another player I have always loved and respected, Kevin Garnett just doesn’t have it anymore. I hate to see my favorite athletes drag out their careers in desperate attempts to win another title. It isn’t going to happen with this Nets team, and he is not doing his legacy any favors. Just retire, become a first-ballot hall-of-famer, and cherish the fact you were able to win the big one.

Another player I have always loved and respected, Kevin Garnett just doesn’t have it anymore. I hate to see my favorite athletes drag out their careers in desperate attempts to win another title. It isn’t going to happen with this Nets team, and he is not doing his legacy any favors. Just retire, become a first-ballot hall-of-famer, and cherish the fact you were able to win the big one.

3. Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum

3. Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum — Teams need to stop paying Bynum to sit on their bench. He is not going to be the player he once was. He won’t even be half of that player. Bynum’s career is a shame because he never amounted into the player that he could have been. Hampered by a bad attitude and bad knees, he is the poster boy for what could have been.

Teams need to stop paying Bynum to sit on their bench. He is not going to be the player he once was. He won’t even be half of that player. Bynum’s career is a shame because he never amounted into the player that he could have been. Hampered by a bad attitude and bad knees, he is the poster boy for what could have been.

2. Greg Oden

Greg Oden

2. Greg Oden

Greg Oden — I feel bad for Oden. Taken with the first overall pick in 2007, injuries immediately stole his once-promising career from him. He will go down as a cautionary tale for teams enamored by big men with upside in the NBA draft (see Joel Embiid). Oden needs to just give up on the NBA and find another walk in life.

I feel bad for Oden. Taken with the first overall pick in 2007, injuries immediately stole his once-promising career from him. He will go down as a cautionary tale for teams enamored by big men with upside in the NBA draft (see Joel Embiid). Oden needs to just give up on the NBA and find another walk in life.

1. Steve Nash

Steve Nash

1. Steve Nash

Steve Nash — Lakers fans should be on board with this one. Nash, an all-time-great player, and clear first-ballot hall-of-famer, is now just a washed up version of his former self. All he is really good for now is killing the Lakers' salary cap for one last season until he comes off of their books. He has gone on record as saying that he wants to play out his contract, so don’t expect him to hang them up until he cashes in his last .7 million.

Lakers fans should be on board with this one. Nash, an all-time-great player, and clear first-ballot hall-of-famer, is now just a washed up version of his former self. All he is really good for now is killing the Lakers' salary cap for one last season until he comes off of their books. He has gone on record as saying that he wants to play out his contract, so don’t expect him to hang them up until he cashes in his last .7 million.

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