BOSTON — While Malcolm Brogdon looked like he was going to be another veteran on a contending Knicks roster, he’s instead calling it a career. Brogdon announced his retirement Wednesday after nine years in the league.
Brogdon played for five teams in his career after getting drafted 36th overall in the 2016 draft by the Bucks. Notably, he was the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year with the Bucks and the 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year for the Celtics. He also played for the Pacers, Trail Blazers and Wizards.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was appreciative of Brogdon and his lone season in Boston. That was also Mazzulla’s first season leading the C’s after getting thrust into the role following Ime Udoka’s suspension-turned-dismissal.
“Obviously, he was Sixth Man of the Year our first year together,” Mazzulla said. “I appreciated the grace that he showed and the patience that he showed and the openness that he showed coming into a place, working with a first-time coach. He did a lot for us on the court, and he was really good off the court with his family and getting to know them here.
“I look at him as a guy that kind of has an identity and knows who he is and will be able to transition into anything he does because of his work ethic and his mentality. But also he just takes pride in learning, and well-educated. I think anything he does, he’ll be good at.”
Brogdon will transition to the next phase of his life after a successful NBA career. The Celtics acquired the guard from the Pacers ahead of the 2022-23 season to bolster the roster. While Brogdon was a starter at that point in his career, he came off the bench for the Celtics and often closed games.
But Brogdon played through a forearm injury in the East Finals against the Heat, severely hampering his production. The Celtics sent him to Portland as part of the first Jrue Holiday trade, right before the 2023-24 season. Brogdon played in 63 games over the past two years between the Blazers and Wizards. In all, Brogdon played in 463 games (296 starts), averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
“Today, I officially begin my transition out of my basketball career. I have proudly given my mind, body, and spirit to the game over the last few decades,” Brogdon said in a statement. “With the many sacrifices it took to get here, I have received many rewards. I am deeply grateful to have arrived to this point on my own terms and now to be able to reap the benefits of my career with my family and friends. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who have had a place in my journey.”
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