Having a long NBA career is something not many players can brag about. Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or LeBron James are a few examples of what weâre talking about.
Moreover, staying at the peak of your talent for such a long time is nearly impossible to accomplish. Thatâs why some players decide to retire when Father Time comes knocking while they still have some dignity.
Unfortunately, other players donât face facts and call it a day until itâs too late. No one reaches out; no one picks up the phone to call and sign them. Here, weâre going to let you know about three former NBA superstars who could be forced to retire now.
NBA News: 3 Former Superstars That May Not Play This Season
3. DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins â Getty Images
DeMarcus Cousinsâ reign as the most dominant big man in the league was short-lived, but that didnât make him any less impressive. He didnât find a lot of playoff success or play for good teams in his prime, but he was still the best in the game.
Boogie endured multiple major injuries, and spending that much time on the shelf can kill any playerâs career. He looks in great shapebut lost that quick first step that helped him bully his way to the rim.
2. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard- Getty Images
Dwight Howard was the best center in the world for at least a decade. Heâs a first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest rim protectors of all time, and a dominant two-way force like few before him.
However, heâs already reached the back end of his career. Heâs bounced around the league over the past couple of years, finally winning that much-deserved ringbut failing to produce at the same level.
1. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony- Getty Images
Talking about great players who may have to retire without a ring, Carmelo Anthonyâs name should be near the top of that list. It seems like itâs the end of the line for Melo after a remarkable NBA career.
Anthony is one of the best scorers of the past two decades. He was a force to be reckoned with during his days with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, but his style of play may not be suited for todayâs full-motion basketball.
