

- • Chicago Bulls point guard Lindsey Hunter announced his retirement from the NBA today, ending his NBA career. Signed by the Bulls as a free agent to an one-year, nonguaranteed contract on November 13, 2008, Hunter averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 assists for the Bulls in his first season with the team, and on July 13, 2009, Hunter re-signed with the Bulls for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million. “This is my last season; I'm effectively retiring.” Hunter enjoyed a 17-year NBA career that saw him take the court for five different teams: Detroit Pistons (1994-2000 and 2003-2008), Milwaukee Bucks (2000-01), Los Angeles Lakers (2001-02), Toronto Raptors (2002-03) and Chicago (2008-2010). The Jackson State native leaves the NBA with career averages of 8.1 points, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, 35.8 percent from three-point range and 74.9 percent from the foul line in 1006 total games in the league.
• The Big Diesel, The Man Of Steel won't be dominating the paint anymore. The 38-year-old, former Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns center Shaquille O'Neal retired today after 18 seasons and a reputation as the best center ever to play the game. He called it quits after seeing his contract with Cleveland expired, where he averaged career-lows of 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds, but shooting a career-high 64.2 percent from the floor. The Cavaliers publicly said during the season they wouldn't resign O'Neal, a decision Shaq said he understood. “You need to do things to better the business. I know the Cavs wouldn't have the money available to give me a new contract, so I'm looking forward to continuously supporting the Cavaliers, but from more of a distance. Anyway, the truth is I can't go through the physical grind of another year. This was my final season. I couldn't retire in a better moment, giving a ring to Bron,” he said in a news conference at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena with LeBron James and Cavs GM Danny Ferry by his side; the Cavaliers defeated the Dallas Mavericks on 7 seven games this past June to lift the Larry O'Brien trophy. LeBron and Antawn Jamison get most of the glory for bringing this NBA championship to Cleveland, this season, but Shaq gladly did the dirty work.
• Detroit Pistons duo, center Ben Wallace and guard Chucky Atkins both announced their retirement from the NBA this morning at a press conference at Auburn Hills, closing the final chapter on their NBA careers. Wallace signs off a 14-year NBA career that included a NBA championship with the Pistons on 2004, four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, four All-Star selections, three All-NBA Second Team and two All-NBA Third Team spots, five All-Defensive First Team and a All-Defensive Second Team nods. “There have been so many people who have supported me through my career, from players to coaches to fans,” said Big Ben. “I appreciate all the owners, GMs, doctors, equipment managers, trainers, ballkids and staff who not only supported me, but helped propel me to the next level in my game. I do not take your love for granted. I look forward to continuing these relationships in my future basketball and business endeavors with Detroit.” Wallace, 35, finishes his career having averaged 5.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 29.8 minutes per contest in 985 regular-season games with Washington, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. Atkins, who originally began his career with the Orlando Magic, signed with the Pistons after that season for his first stint with the team. He later god traded to Boston, and also played with the Lakers, Washington, Memphis, Denver and Oklahoma City last year.
• San Antonio Spurs guard Michael Finley has informed the media that he will retire from professional basketball today. “It is time to move on to the next stage in my life. My career has been a blessing and I am grateful to have had this experience.” Finley was signed by the Spurs for the 2005/06 season, and won an NBA championship in 2007 with the Spurs in his 12th NBA season. He was given the "game ball" by his teammates, and specifically mentioned in post-game interviews by Robert Horry and Tim Duncan. Out of the original trio from the Dallas Mavericks, he became the first to achieve a title, surpassing the 2006–07 NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki and previous two-time MVP Steve Nash. 37 years old, 6-7, 225-pounds, Finley was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft. The Wisconsin native ends his NBA career with averages of 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 1139 career games over 15 seasons with Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio; he had a 22.6-points, 6.3-rebounds and 5.3-assists year with the Mavericks on 1999/2000. He was acquired by Dallas on December 26, 1996, along with Sam Cassell, A. C. Green and a second-round draft pick for Jason Kidd, Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer.
• Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill announced his official retirement from the league today. A seven-time All-Star, whose career was slowed by a recurring ankle injury, is hanging 'em up. “Previously I had the desire to always play. But I don't want to live on anti-inflammatories and so forth for the rest of my life. So, I calling 'em quits.” Hill signed a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Magic in 2000, just a few months after having surgery to repair a broken left ankle. He was supposed to team with Tracy McGrady and give Orlando one of the best scoring tandems in the league, but it never quite worked out as planned as Hill played just 200 regular-season games in seven years. In his first three years in Orlando, Hill played four, 14 and 29 games before having season-ending surgery. He sat out his entire fourth season (2003-04) following a fifth ankle surgery. “I felt pretty good this past seasons with the Suns, and I'm excited for the new challenges coming in my life,” Hill added. “82 games is a long season and age has finally caught up with me. This is the right time to retire.”
• Portland Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby and forward Juwan Howard both announced their retirement from the league. Camby, 6-11, 235-pounds, averaged 10.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 839 career games. His most productive statistical season came in 2006/2007 with the Denver Nuggets, when he averaged 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks en route to the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. “My body has gave me all the signs. It's time to hang 'em up,” said Camby. “I’ll miss the jersey and shorts.” A 2nd-overall selection by the Toronto Raptors on the 1996 NBA Draft, Camby played for five teams in his NBA career (Toronto, New York, Denver, L.A. Clippers and Portland). Howard, less than three days after Camby announced his retirement, Howard announced he was calling it a playing career as well. Howard, whose intensity and effort this year made him a fan favorite with both Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla injured, played in 1043 games over 15 seasons, averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, including a 22.1-points, 8.1-rebounds, 4.4-assists year with Washington on 1995/96. “My days on the court as an NBA player are over, but I am looking forward to continuing all my offcourt work and keeping a promise to the kids of Portland,” Howard said. Howard met with Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard and the two discussed options for the veteran forward to keep him involved with the team. In addition to doing some scouting work and learning the business side of basketball, Howard will work on a broadcasting career and will also expand his community efforts and the extensive programs of his foundation.

