Former NBA champion and power forward Nemanja Bjelica has announced
his retirement from the sport.
The 35-year-old announced the development in a detailed statement
released on the social media platform Instagram on Saturday.
"Lately I have read several official announcements by
professional athletes talking about the end of their careers," he wrote. "That
got me thinking that when the time comes, I would personally try to avoid such
a moment, as I have always been a private person and have tried to keep my
media appearances short and only related to basketball.
"Somewhere not long ago I read that no one has ever won
a race against time. Over the last years I have become fully aware of that.
Even now, after 20 years devoting myself to the game, I feel the need to
officially announce that the end has come.
"When I arrived to the NBA I had to adjust and change
my style of playing completely, but I do not regret. Firstly, Zarko Djurisic
during my stay in Minnesota and then Vlade Divac and Peja Stojaković in
Sacramento gave me new motivation and challenges and pushed me into new
victories.
"Finally, and the peak of my professional career, was
getting the championship ring with the Golden State Warriors and coach Steve
Kerr, who showed me that basketball is more than winning.”
Bjelica was a part of the Warriors team that won the NBA
title in the 2021-22 season. In that season, he played 70 games and registered
6.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
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