Abdur-Rahim Retires Quietly
Sacramento Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim retired from the NBA last week after 12 highly successful seasons. During his career Abdur-Rahim averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while playing for the Vancouver Grizzlies, the Portland Trailblazers, the Atlanta Hawks and the aforementioned Kings.
He was also a member of the 2000 U.S. gold medal Olympic basketball team in Sydney, Australia, and he was an 2002 selection for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
“Regarding my career, I’ve been really blessed and fortunate,” admitted Abdur-Rahim. “I’m thankful that I had basketball and was able to play in the NBA. There aren’t a lot of people who actually get to do what they grow up dreaming about doing. I’ve had that opportunity and I’m really thankful for that. I’m also thankful for the coaches, trainers, owners, front office people and friends I’ve made through my time in the NBA. It was a tough decision, but in no way am I bitter. I’m just really thankful and happy that I was given the opportunity to play in the NBA.”
Abdur-Rahim appeared in just six games for the Kings last year, before having season ending knee surgery last December. Despite extensive rehab, his knee never responded, and he decided his body had enough.
“I came to grips with the fact that, health-wise, I won’t be able to get back to the condition and level that is needed to play in the NBA. My right knee has become arthritic over the years, and is to the point where it won’t allow me do the things and play at the level at which I’m accustomed to playing. As tough as it is to come to grips with, it’s the reality.”
Abdur-Rahim began playing at the high level he spoke of, right out of the University of California in 1996. He was a part of the now famous 1996 NBA Draft class that produced Allen Iverson, Marbury, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Jermaine O’Neal to name a few. Abur-Rahim was picked third in that draft, and he went to Vancouver to play for the Grizzlies. Instead of complaining and making attempts to avoid playing in that city the way Steve Francis did in 1999, Abdur-Rahim took the classy approach, laid it all out on the basketball court and made the All-Rookie team.
As classy as he was on the court, Abdur-Rahim demonstrated even more class off of it. In 2004, while with the Hawks, he was named the NBA’s Number One Good Guy after starting the “Reef House” through his Fund Foundation. The Reef House assists at-risk and underprivileged youth through the establishment and funding of scholarships, educational and recreational programs, and joint venture projects.
He also created “Rebound America” which raised funds for victims of the September 11th attacks in 2001. Abdur-Rahim also was a member of Operation Rebound which assisted victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
While these organizations received little press or fanfare, it didn’t make them any less important to Abdur-Rahim.
“I just hope that whatever team I was on, whatever city I was in, whatever organization I was with, that my contributions were about more than just playing basketball. If all I did in those situations I was in was play basketball, then I’d say I did a poor job.”
Sacramento Kings Team President Geoff Petrie plans to reward Abdur-Rahim’s service both on and off the court, by adding him to the team’s staff either as an assistant coach or in a different capacity.
“He has had an exemplary career as a player and citizen. It is unfortunate for any productive career to be felled by injury. However, no one can ever doubt Shareef’s effort, commitment or desire to excel. It is our intention to find a new role for Shareef with the organization as he begins the next phase of his professional life.”
As a fan of Abdur-Rahim and the way he carries himself, let’s hope the Kings make this happen and reward one of the league’s “good guys.”
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
This article was written by:
Rashad Mobley - who has written 69 posts on Hoops Addict.
Rashad Mobley graduated with a B.S. in English Education, from Hampton University in Hampton, VA in 1996. He is a government consultant for the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., where he currently resides. Rashad is will be covering the Washington Wizards for HoopsAddict.com during the upcoming NBA season.