Few role players in the NBA can stand the test of time and carve out playing careers that span a decade or more, as it is tough to stay relevant and impactful on the professional level, especially with a new batch of young players coming into the league each year eager to prove themselves.
Even though it doesn’t happen a lot, as players can flame out quickly if they don’t live up to expectations in the first few years of their professional careers, sometimes players can earn contract after contract by being productive on the basketball floor while being consummate professionals.
The perfect example of a role player who has stood the test of time is guard DJ Augustin, who recently announced on his Instagram account that he has decided to retire after playing 14 years in the league via NBA on ESPN.
Breaking: Veteran guard D.J. Augustin has announced his retirement on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/TRkP62dbcg
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 3, 2024
Despite not having played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season, Augustin had a long and successful career in the league, where he played with 11 different teams, making his mark early with the Orlando Magic, who drafted him with No. 9 overall pick in 2008, and the then-Charlotte Bobcats.
Along with stints with the Magic and Bobcats, Augustin played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.
The University of Texas product averaged 9.5 points, 3.9 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.2% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc, playing in 976 games in his NBA career.
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