Mike Muscala set to retire from NBA after second stint with OKC Thunder
Joel LorenziLAS VEGAS — Veteran NBA big man Mike Muscala is retiring, he told The Oklahoman.
Per Muscala’s father, Bob, Mike intends to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports management, with intentions to venture into basketball coaching and/or administration.
“Grateful for it all,” Mike Muscala said via text.
Muscala, who finished last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will hang up his jersey after stints with seven NBA teams — the Hawks, 76ers, Lakers, Celtics, Wizards and Pistons among them — including a second run with the Thunder when he was acquired around this February’s trade deadline.
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He averaged 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and shot 37.3% on 3-pointers over 11 seasons.
The 33-year-old was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 44th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft after a four-year career at Bucknell, where his jersey is retired.
As a serviceable stretch big, Muscala spent the winding years of his career as a journeyman. Back in May, he spoke on the difficulty of the constant shift and relocation, particularly in the past few seasons. A whirlwind that made him that much more grateful for his final stop.
“It means a lot,” Muscala said of his time with the Thunder back in May. “I went through a lot in my life when I was here, just the city, the fans, the way that they support the team, what the team means to the community, those are things that I feel like I can relate to.
“I'll always be a Thunder fan no matter what happens in my life.”
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