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For some NBA players, their careers end in ultimate glory, leaving behind legacies that will live on forever in basketball history. Yet, for others, the final chapters of their careers are marred by adversity and turmoil. A few unlucky ones have even had their careers ultimately tarnished by the way it ended. In this article, we delve into the stories of NBA stars whose careers ended on a sour note:
Tracy McGrady
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McGrady had never made it past the first round in his NBA career. That is…until he joined the San Antonio Spurs for the stretch run in 2013. Following eight brutal first-round exits, the two-time scoring champion latched on with the Spurs after playing overseas in China during the regular season.
Appearing in six games for San Antonio, McGrady was unable to capture his first championship ring when the Spurs fell to the Miami Heat in the Finals in a historic seven-game series. He missed all seven of his shot attempts in the postseason.
Stephon Marbury
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The Celtics have historically been willing to bring in aging veterans on low-risk deals. It started in the 80s with an over-the-hill — but still serviceable — Bill Walton and included several other former All-Stars. Marbury was a legitimate star during his prime, but he bounced around the league a ton during his early years and never landed in a solid situation.
Following his disastrous run with the Knicks, Marbury attempted to make one more run at a championship. A Boston team in need of guard play took a chance on ‘Starbury’ in 2009. The two-time All-Star proceeded to have the worst stretch of his career, averaging 3.8 PPG in 23 games with Boston. Marbury’s poor play pushed him to begin a new career in China, where he flourished as one of the more popular and prominent players in the CBA for several more years.
Dennis Rodman
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‘The Worm’ made a name for himself during his two title-winning stints in Detroit and Chicago. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year was a stalwart and played with unparalleled energy every time he stepped foot on the floor. After winning his fifth NBA title with the Bulls in ’98, Rodman joined up with former coach Phil Jackson in Hollywood for a one-year stint with the Lakers.
After enjoying one season with Shaquille O’Neal and a young Kobe Bryant, Rodman finally joined his hometown team when he signed with the Dallas Mavericks. At 38 years old, Rodman didn’t have much left to give as a player, but it was nice to see the Hall of Famer don the jersey of his hometown Mavericks — even if it was only for 12 games.
Paul Pierce
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Another case of an aging star joining his hometown team, Pierce joined the Clippers in 2016 — once again joining forces with former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. Pierce was a draft pick of the Celtics — the bitter rival of LA’s true team, the Lakers — and spent 15 years in Boston. It didn’t seem like he ever intended to leave until the Celtics dealt him — along with Kevin Garnett — to the Brooklyn Nets for a trove of draft picks.
Pierce played one year in Brooklyn before having a memorable one-year run as a member of the Wizards. Pierce had experienced a taste of NBA glory during the 2008 season with Boston when they won the title and thought he could help the Clippers achieve the same. Unfortunately, the Clippers never made it out of the first round during Pierce’s two seasons, and the 39-year-old called it quits after the 2017 season.
Chris Webber
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Part of the famed “Fab Five” at the University of Michigan, it always seemed likely that C-Webb would wind up on the Pistons at one point or another. The five-time All-NBA selection took his time making his way back to his home state. After playing just a single season with the team that drafted him — the Golden State Warriors — Webber went on to play four seasons in Washington.
In 1998, Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings, where he became one of the top power forwards in the league. After failing to win a title with the Kings, Webber joined Allen Iverson in Philadelphia for a year before finally making it to Detroit in 2006. In a surprise move during the offseason, the Pistons traded center Ben Wallace and asked Webber to fill in as a big man for a Detroit team on its final legs. Webber started all 16 games in the NBA Playoffs that year before the Pistons fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals in what served as LeBron’s breakout party.
Karl Malone
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It was always going to be weird seeing Malone sporting a jersey other than the one he wore in Utah. A member of the Jazz over three decades (1985-2003), Malone had become synonymous with the perennial Western Conference powerhouse — making it even more bizarre when he signed with the Lakers to form one of the earliest versions of an NBA “super” team.
Malone was banged up for most of that season, but he played well when he was on the floor. The NBA’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer accepted a lesser role and did all the little things for a Lakers team that contended for an NBA title. Ultimately, Malone’s body broke down by the time the Lakers had reached the Finals. He sat on the sideline for the clinching Game 5 when the Pistons defeated the Lakers to win the 2004 NBA title. That would be the last game Malone ever watched as an NBA player, as he retired in the ensuing offseason.
Gary Payton
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Malone’s teammate during his single season in Los Angeles, “The Glove” had a few more pit-stops in his NBA career than “The Mailman” did. Payton spent 12 years in Seattle before finally packing his bags and moving to Milwaukee. Then, in a shocking development, Payton joined the Lakers in a last-ditch effort to capture an NBA title.
The 2004 Lakers famously faltered in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons, but Payton had one more chance at glory later in his career. Payton was a member of the 2006 Miami Heat who defeated Dallas in the Finals. However, in between his LA and Miami stops, Payton made a quick appearance in Boston for a year. It was an unmemorable 77 games for the 36-year-old, as Payton and the Celts were ousted from the first round of the playoffs that year.
Brandon Roy
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Roy’s career is a tragic tale. Once a promising guard with immense offensive talent, injuries eventually led Roy to an early retirement. Up until that first retirement, Roy had played every game of his career for the team that drafted him — the Portland Trail Blazers. However, after a year away from the game, Roy returned to the floor and joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His return to the floor was powerful and illustrated a compelling story of perseverance. Roy would only play five games for Minnesota in the 2013 season, but his ability to return from countless ailments sent a powerful message throughout the league.
Vince Carter
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Vince Carter’s career evolved several times over 22 years. He began as the league’s top high-flying act and eventually developed into one of the better catch-and-shoot specialists. His most memorable years came in Toronto and New Jersey where he was a multiple-time All-Star and one of the most recognizable players in the league.
While his career did span over two decades, Carter wasn’t much of a difference-maker for his last few seasons. He played three years in Memphis (’15-’17) and averaged less than 7 PPG. His final two seasons were as a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Carter went nine seasons (’12-’20) without recording a single 30-point performance.
George Gervin
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Not as many NBA fans today were able to enjoy watching “The Iceman” during his prime. There are plenty of clips and videos circulating the internet of Gervin being one of the best offensive players the game has seen. Gervin won four scoring titles in San Antonio and had a five-year stretch in which he averaged just a tick under 30 points per night.
Gervin’s highlights as a Spur are so ingrained in people’s minds, that seeing him in another jersey almost makes the photo seem doctored. Well, Gervin did don another jersey toward the end of his career when he was a member of the Chicago Bulls. Gervin spent one year in Chicago playing alongside a second-year player named Michael Jordan.
Hakeem Olajuwon
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For a brief period, Hakeem Olajuwon was considered the best player in the NBA. Sure, it was only because Michael Jordan had left the sport to pursue baseball, but “The Dream” is truly one of the greats. His electric run in Houston included two NBA titles, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and an MVP. After spending 22 years in Houston (between college and the NBA), it seemed highly likely Olajuwon would end his career as a Rocket. However, the all-time great had other plans.
Olajuwon signed with the Toronto Raptors in 2001, and it was certainly a strange sight to see the native Nigerian sporting the purple and red threads. He had an uneventful season, and after averaging just 7.1 PPG in a five-game first-round exit, Hakeem walked away from the game for good.
Penny Hardaway
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The throwback Orlando jerseys were a fitting kit for Hardaway. The 6-foot-7 point guard was a magical player during his athletic prime, a part-Magic/part-Jason Kidd-hybrid who could score, defend, and pass at an elite level. Following his tumultuous injury history, Hardaway needed to adapt to become more of an off-guard and a role player — which limited his ability to produce gaudy stats.
During these times, Hardaway played for several teams many may not remember him by. He enjoyed a handful of great years with the Suns and a few not-as-great years with the Knicks. Hardaway’s final season came in Miami in 2008. We can’t fault many fans for not recalling this time, as the Heat lost 67 games that year and Hardaway appeared in just 16 games.
Patrick Ewing
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Ewing is one of the greatest New York Knicks players of all time. Though he catches plenty of slack for never winning a title, Ewing carried flawed Knicks rosters to multiple Conference Finals appearances. He was a two-way monster who had to shoulder massive responsibilities on both ends of the floor.
It was a shock to the NBA world when the Knicks traded their aging star to the SuperSonics in a four-team deal that included names such as Glen Rice, Luc Longley, and Horace Grant. The images of an aging Ewing in a Seattle jersey (and an Orlando uniform a year later) are some of the strangest photos in NBA history.
Dominique Wilkins
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Wilkins made a few intriguing stops before ending his career. Though most remember the high-flying dunk champion for his time with the Hawks, Wilkins also spent time with the Clippers, Spurs, and even his former rival the Boston Celtics. However, the team Wilkins ended his career with was the Magic. He played in Orlando during the 96-97 season, appearing in 27 games for a Shaq-less Magic squad. It was also the only time Wilkins played with his brother, Damian, during their NBA careers.
Dwyane Wade
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It felt like Dwyane Wade would never play for another team other than the Miami Heat. Wade made the Heat his team. He embraced the city, the fans, and the franchise during a 13-year run that saw him win three NBA titles and the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. However, Miami decided to build around youth after 2016 and allowed their 13-time All-Star to walk following the season.
Wade signed with his hometown Chicago Bulls, but the team quickly imploded after trading star forward Jimmy Butler. Unwilling to stick with a flailing team, Wade joined forces with an old friend, LeBron James, in an attempt to make one last run at a title together. The makeshift Cavaliers failed miserably, as the front office wound up trading half the roster by the trade deadline — including a deal that sent Wade back to Miami where he finished his career.
Allen Iverson
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It was a devastating blow to Philadelphia when Allen Iverson was traded to Denver in 2006. He had a couple of very good years playing alongside Carmelo Anthony in a Nuggets uniform, but following his Denver tenure Iverson’s game had deteriorated a bit. Gone were the days of Iverson being a consistent 20-point scorer, as he bounced from team to team trying to shape a new identity within the league.
The 2000 NBA MVP would play in Detroit and Memphis following his Denver tenure. By that point, Iverson had declined into a bench player. He signed with the 76ers in 2010 and played 25 more games in Philadelphia before finally calling it a career.
Michael Jordan
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When Michael Jordan called it quits in 1998, we thought it was finally for good. He had retired once before, but after six championships there wasn’t much left for “His Airness” to accomplish. However, a competitor like Jordan always feels the itch to get back on the floor, and in 2002 Jordan was ready to make one last return.
To the dismay of Chicago fans, Jordan eventually returned with a different team than the one he had played his entire career with up until that point. At the time, Jordan was a part-owner and acting President for the Washington Wizards, and he believed his presence on the floor could help boost the flailing team. At 39 years of age, Jordan returned to the NBA and played pretty well. He averaged over 20 PPG in his two seasons back and even had a 50-point performance against the Hornets. Despite that, it isn’t easy to see Jordan wearing anything other than a Chicago No. 23 jersey — or No. 45. Oh, and that one time he wore No. 12 also.
Dikembe Mutombo
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The Celtics aren’t the only team that has an affinity for aging former stars. ‘Mount’ Mutombo was one of the most popular figures in basketball during the 90s. His shot-blocking ability and famous finger-wag celebration endeared him to fans across the NBA globe. Mutombo had many memorable moments with his first team — the Denver Nuggets — including being the first 8-seed to knock off a 1-seed when the Nuggets upset Seattle in the first round of the 1994 NBA Playoffs.
Mutombo added to his collection of accolades when he went to Philadelphia in 2001 and helped guide the team to an NBA Finals appearance (and also won Defensive Player of the Year). Following his 76ers tenure, a 37-year-old Mutombo agreed to join the Knicks. He was mediocre, at best, in New York but wound up playing five more years in the league after leaving the Knicks following his only year with the team.
Tony Parker
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Parker could have called it quits following a 17-year run in San Antonio and would have had a one-way ticket to the Hall of Fame. A four-time NBA Champion, six-time All-Star, and the 2007 Finals MVP, Parker was an integral piece during San Antonio’s two-decade run of excellence. However, unlike his teammates Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, Parker decided to see what it was like playing for another team in the association.
A devout fan of Michael Jordan growing up, Parker signed with Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets following the 2018 season. Parker came off the bench in all 56 games he appeared in 2019, and that was the last we saw of the French native as he retired by season’s end.
Shaquille O’Neal
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In Orlando and Los Angeles, Shaq was arguably the best player in the league for some time and dominated opposing centers for years. In Miami, O’Neal felt rejuvenated and helped the Heat capture the 2006 NBA title alongside emerging star Dwyane Wade.
And then, Shaq’s career took some interesting twists and turns. The next three stops in his NBA voyage were short and mostly unmemorable. He was traded to the Suns in 2007, which essentially put an end to Phoenix’s famed “seven seconds or less” offense. Then he went and linked up with LeBron James in Cleveland, and that didn’t work out all too well as James bolted for Miami a year later. To finish his career, the ‘Big Aristotle’ became the ‘Big Shamrock’ when he joined the trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen in Boston. By that point, O’Neal’s body had broken down and after 37 games with the Celtics, he called it a career.