Longtime NBA big man Ronny Turiaf has announced that he is retiring, posting a YouTube video to confirm his decision. Turiaf narrates the video in French, discussing his career journey and explaining why he’s deciding to call it a career.
“My objective was always to play for 10 years in the NBA and to play 100 times for Team France,” Turiaf says in the video, as he literally walks toward the sunset. “I can honestly say that I achieved all of my goals. So now, I begin my new life.”
Back in June, Turiaf indicated in an interview with BasketUSA.com (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando) that he’d have some interest in returning to the court, following a hip injury that had sidelined him since 2014. The 33-year-old suggested he’d leave the door open to the possibility of signing with an NBA team or a major European club, but it seems he either decided against a comeback, or didn’t receive the sort of interest he had hoped for.
A second-round pick out of Gonzaga in the 2005 draft, Turiaf spent three years with the Lakers before moving on to the Warriors, Knicks, Wizards, Heat, Clippers, and Timberwolves. Over the course of his 10-year NBA career, Turiaf appeared in 473 total regular season games, averaging 4.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.3 BPG. He also played in 47 postseason contests, winning a title with the Heat in 2012.
Happy Retirement