The NBA's Unlucky Seven: A Few Players Who We Wish Would Retire

Sometimes, they just hang on too long.

In other cases, they never had much going on in the first place.

Regardless, it’s no surprise that an NBA player would try to extend his career for as long as possible.

The competition, the travel, the camaraderie, the perks, and the pay…it’s a life well-lived, for much too short of a time.

No matter. There comes a time when, for his own sake, the sake of his teammates, and the sanity of the fans, he has to hang ‘em up.

We could probably argue the merits of a dozen or two possibilities. For now, here are seven leading candidates.

Lindsey Hunter

Yes, he’s still in the league. But, at 39, he’s a shadow of his formal self.

Hunter had a great run with Detroit from 1993 to 2000, then a less-than-stellar return swing with the Pistons from 2003 to 2008.

After averaging double figures as a starter for four years in the Motor City, Hunter moved to Milwaukee in 2000 and has been, for the most part, a reserve ever since.

One bright spot along the way: He won a ring as a member of the 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers.

Over the last seven seasons, however, he’s started a grand total of 13 games. Over the past three, he’s played in just 65. His season scoring averages since 2003 read like the weights off of a stack of meat packages: 3.5, 3.8, 2.9, 4.9, 2.4, 2.6, 1.0.

It’s time.

Adonal Foyle

A decent enough rebounder early in his career with Golden State, Foyle never added much at the offensive end.

His career high of 5.9 points a game came in his fourth season with the Warriors.

Now, he’s inactive as much as he’s active with the Orlando Magic.

At 35, he’s been activated seven times this season, playing in a grand total of zero games.

Zero.

Time to make it official, no?

Eddy Curry

Granted, he’s only 27, but the injury-prone Curry has barely set foot on the hardwood for the past two seasons.

Curry put up some solid stats with the Bulls and the Knicks, having a career year just three seasons ago, when he averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds a game for New York.

Now, however, he collects more splinters than minutes. The last two seasons: 10 games, 31 points, 17 rebounds.

A gravy train that’s going nowhere, fast.

DeSagana Diop

I know, he’s a 7-footer, and you can never get enough big men. And yes, he still averages about 10 minutes a game...when he plays, that is.

But, talk about a guy who never lived up to expectations. Note I didn’t say “promise.” Just expectations.

His benchmark scoring year? When he averaged 2.9 points a game splitting time between Dallas and New Jersey in 2007-08. His career average is 2.1.

His rebound totals were a little better, and he did manage to average almost two blocked shots a game one season in Dallas.

Now, it’s approximately one point and two boards a game, and he’s played in just four games in the last month-and-a-half.

He’s missed nine straight games with a strained MCL. If he missed the last 20, would he be missed?

Michael Finley

OK, we’ll give him the rest of the season, given he’s just joined the Celtics. He might as well enjoy the ride and see if he can play a role and help Boston’s last-gasp effort to make the Finals.

Otherwise, the journey is nearing its end for the 36-year-old Finley.

He was a prolific scorer from 1997 to 2002, averaging better than 20 points a game for Dallas.

His production curtailed after moving to San Antonio in 2005, and this year he averaged a minuscule 3.7 points in 25 games with the Spurs.

He’s been on the All-Rookie team and played in two All-Star games, and was part of a championship-winning team in San Antonio in 2007.

It’s been a great career. Give it a few more months, Michael, and then go out in style.

Allen Iverson

This one was painfully obvious a year ago, and even more so when the Memphis experiment fell flat at the beginning of this year.

It’s been a tough year for Iverson, so we’ll dispense with any humor on this one. He left the team recently to be with his afflicted daughter, and then his wife filed for divorce.

The 76ers decided to sever ties with the 11-time All-Star.

Now, reports have surfaced that he’s dealing with gambling and alcohol issues. True or not, these are tough times.

If he’s dealing with everything the best he can, good for him. We wish him well, and hope that he accepts the fact that “life after basketball” has arrived, and can be enjoyed.

Tracy McGrady

Call me crazy, but landing in New York sealed this one for me. If McGrady could have played a supporting role with a contender, a la Shaquille O’Neal, okay. But New York?

McGrady was once one of the premier talents in the NBA, winning back-to-back scoring titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04. He’s played in seven All-Star games and owns a career scoring average of 21.8 points per game.

But, his production has declined the last two seasons mainly due to injuries. Even now, with the Knicks, he’s not 100 percent.

However, think about what Kobe Bryant continues to do with the Lakers, or, more telling, McGrady's former teammate Grant Hill's current performances. If you’re a superstar, that’s what you should be capable of in your post-30 years.

Instead, McGrady has practically disappeared from the NBA radar.

Now, it's almost as if he’s been reduced to the role of recruiter: Maybe he can get LeBron to come to the Knicks...or Bosh...or Wade.

If not, then what?

I’d rather remember T-Mac as the transcendent star that he was in Orlando and in Houston. That might not happen if he continues to compromise with mediocrity.