The NBA league brings together 30 teams, each of which can field 12-15 players. As a result, the number of players in the league is relatively fixed, around 400 per year.
With the annual draft meeting, the addition of European players and the development of the league, there is a steady stream of fresh player blood. As the saying goes, "the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves", the rise of the younger generation has made the departure of some veteran stars seem quite ordinary. The following five players may have left the NBA, which may be a fact you don't know yet.
Kemba Walker is an excellent point guard who rose to prominence as a lottery pick in the same draft as Irving and Leonard. He played for the Hornets in his early years, successfully establishing himself as an All-Star. After joining the Boston Green Army, Walker also had an excellent performance, once setting a stunning moment of 60 points in a single game.
However, over the past two years, Walker has had to say goodbye to the NBA due to injuries and defensive issues. After being cut by the Mavericks last season, he finally decided to join the French First Division to start a new basketball journey.
Ibaka is one of the players known to fans, once one of the Thunder's "four youngsters", and a player with unusual talent. As a young man, he was the king of blocks in the league and later became an all-round player by developing mid-range shots. After many years of playing, he successfully helped the Raptors win the NBA championship.
However, as time went on, Ibaka's form gradually declined. This year, Ibaka officially announced his retirement from the NBA and joined Bayern Munich to continue his adventure in basketball.
Both Jabari Parker and Wiggins were hailed as talented players back then, one a top pick and the other a top star, and both were known for their athleticism and solid scoring skills.
Unfortunately, Parker's repeated injuries caused him to move from team to team and not reach the peak of his career again. In '22, he joined the Celtics as a substitute, but averaged just 44 points in the account, mediocre performance. Since then, he has gradually fallen out of favor with the team, and although he was only 28 years old at the time, he was eliminated from the league.
The champion show Griffin is well-known and loved by fans as one of the best violent dunkers in history. He had a stellar rookie season, earning the title "White Monster" and becoming an All-Star for many years in a row.
However, during his time with the Pistons, he returned from injury in the playoffs, but he buried a hidden problem. Age and injuries caused him to decline rapidly, averaging just four points per game for the Green Army last season before retiring.
Rivers Jr. is not as well-known as Rivers Sr. as a role player, but he is also quite prestigious. He entered the league as a lottery pick, and under his father's leadership, he had a wonderful season averaging 15 points and 4 assists per game, proving his quality.
However, his performances with the Rockets, Knicks, Nuggets and Timberwolves never made much of a splash. At only 30 years old this year, he suddenly announced his retirement, which surprised and shocked many fans.