Malcolm Brogdon appeared poised to earn a roster spot with the New York Knicks this season. Instead, he opted to retire. News of that decision broke less than a week before the 2025-26 campaign tips off.
The nine-year veteran spent the 2022-23 season with the Boston Celtics. There, he earned the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He knocked down 44.4 percent of the 4.4 threes he hoisted.
Perhaps if the former NBA Rookie of the Year hadn't suffered an arm injury that severely compromised his postseason production, Boston would have become the first team in league history to erase a 3-0 series deficit. Instead of reaching the Finals in consecutive campaigns, the Celtics fell in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on their home parquet.
Brogdon then made his way to the Pacific Northwest as part of the trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that brought Jrue Holiday to Boston. After a year there, followed by a season in the nation's capital with the Washington Wizards, he could've returned to a title contender.
Had he made the Knicks' roster, he would've been on a top team in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Instead, he decided it was time to start the next chapter of his life.
Joe Mazzulla discusses Malcolm Brogdon's retirement
With the 32-year-old retiring after nearly a decade in the Association on Wednesday, before the Celtics' preseason finale against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, Joe Mazzulla, Brogdon's former bench boss, discussed that announcement.
Joe Mazzulla on Malcolm Brogdon’s retirement:
“I look at him and look at a guy that has an identity and knows who he is and will be able to transition into anything that he does because of his work ethic, his mentality, but also he just takes pride in learning, you know, well… pic.twitter.com/Ueglosj7tR
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) October 15, 2025
"Yeah, obviously, he's a Sixth Man of the Year. It was our first year together. I appreciate the grace that he showed," shared Mazzulla. "The patience that he showed, and the openness that he showed for coming to a place and then working with a first-time coach. And he did a lot for us. Obviously, on the court, but he was really good off the floor, with his family, and getting to know them there.
"So, I look at him and look at a guy that has an identity and knows who he is and will be able to transition into anything that he does because of his work ethic, his mentality, but also his -- [he] takes pride in learning, and being well-educated. So I think anything he does, he'll be good at, and [I'm] glad I got to coach him. He did a lot of good stuff for us."