Malcolm Brogdon, 32, is calling it a career after nine seasons in the NBA. The veteran guard had a rather successful career, winning Rookie of the Year in 2017 with the Milwaukee Bucks and Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 as a member of the Boston Celtics. Despite that success, though, Brogdon will retire sooner than anticipated.
After spending the 2024-25 season with Washington, Brogdon was on track to make the New York Knicks’ final roster. Instead, he decided to retire, a decision that he’d supposedly been contemplating for a while. Brogdon informed Knicks officials on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
‘Today, I officially begin my transition out of my basketball career,’ Brogdon told ESPN. ‘I am deeply grateful to have arrived to this point on my own terms and now to be able to reap the benefits of my career with my family and friends. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who have had a place in my journey.’
Malcolm Brogdon career
Brogdon was drafted 36th overall in the 2016 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He would go on to win Rookie of the Year in 2016-17 and looked to be a promising addition to a budding Bucks team. However, after just three years with the team, he was traded to Indiana.
Brogdon would play a feature role with the Pacers, even averaging over 21 points with the Pacers during the 2020-21 season. He’d only stay with them for three years as well, though. From there, he’d join the Boston Celtics, where he was named Sixth Man of the Year following a terrific 2022-23 campaign. That award made Brogdon just the second player in league history to win both Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year (Mike Miller the other).
Brogdon averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game throughout his nine seasons in the league.
How does this affect the Knicks?
Although Brogdon certainly would’ve been a great presence in the Knicks’ locker room, he likely wouldn’t have had a massive role on the team. The Knicks made an effort to bolster their backcourt depth this offseason, signing both Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet — though Shamet was only given a training camp deal and was expecting to compete for a roster spot, just like Brogdon.
While Brogdon could have certainly provided some scoring off the bench, the Knicks are in no need of such skills from a depth guard. After all, Jordan Clarkson leads the NBA in points off the bench since 2020.
Brogdon would have been a valuable depth piece on a Knicks’ team that lacks in that department, but it is unclear how Brogdon would have exactly fit into the Knicks’ rotation, if at all.