Ex-Spurs big man announces retirement from NBA

Dec 13, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the San Antonio Spurs logo on the court prior to a game between the Spurs and the LA Clippers at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Gregg Popovich has outlasted yet another one of his former players.

Veteran NBA big man Gorgui Dieng announced over the weekend that he is officially retired from the NBA after 10 career seasons.

“Everyone around me knew I wanted to play 10 years and that was it,” Dieng said to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “I always said that. When I reached 10, I said I’ve reached my goal. It was time to stop and try different stuff.”

Dieng added that he is now working for the Spurs front office as a “basketball operations representative.”

The 33-year-old Dieng spent two of his 10 career seasons in San Antonio, including a reunion with them in the 2022-23 season that ended up being his final professional stint. He was known as a versatile big man who could make an impact inside and also step out to hit a jumper (finishing his career with averages of 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds a game).

Dieng was a starter on the Louisville team that won the NCAA title in 2013 (though it was later vacated). He went on to become a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2013 (No. 21 overall) and also played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks in addition to the Spurs.

With a good amount of enforcer-like moments in the NBA too, Dieng got his money’s worth as a player and will now stay in the sport as a front office cog.