Corey Maggette said over the weekend that if he couldn’t make the Spurs roster — and it was a long shot going in — he was going to retire.
Tuesday the Spurs announced they have waived Maggette.
This looks like the end of a 14-year NBA career. In those years Maggette was a solid overall player who brought one elite skill to the table — he could draw fouls and get to the line with the best of them. He led the league in free throw attempts in 2004 and was in the league’s Top 10 in attempts six times.
That fit with Maggette’s physical style of play — he was built for it with some of the biggest arms in the league — but that style also started to lead to physical breakdowns in recent years. He couldn’t stay healthy. Combined with declining skills and he played just 18 games in Detroit last season, 32 in Charlotte the season before that.
San Antonio extended him a training camp invite this season, but with 14 guaranteed contracts on the roster already he was going to have to amaze some people to get a contract. That didn’t happen.
Still, you have to love Maggette’s attitude about the possible end when speaking over the weekend (which is easier when you earned $89 million for your career).
“If I could get an opportunity here, it would be great. If not, this game has been good to me.”
