Mike Muscala speaks at Thunder Media Day
Thunder player Mike Muscala discusses the draw of Oklahoma City, as well as the team’s young roster during Thunder Media Day.
Justin Martinez, Oklahoman
LAS VEGAS — Veteran NBA big man Mike Muscala is retiring, he told The Oklahoman.
Per Muscala’s father, Bob, Mike intends to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports management, with intentions to venture into basketball coaching and/or administration.
“Grateful for it all,” Mike Muscala said via text.
Muscala, who finished last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will hang up his jersey after stints with seven NBA teams — the Hawks, 76ers, Lakers, Celtics, Wizards and Pistons among them — including a second run with the Thunder when he was acquired around this February’s trade deadline.
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He averaged 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and shot 37.3% on 3-pointers over 11 seasons.
The 33-year-old was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 44th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft after a four-year career at Bucknell, where his jersey is retired.
As a serviceable stretch big, Muscala spent the winding years of his career as a journeyman. Back in May, he spoke on the difficulty of the constant shift and relocation, particularly in the past few seasons. A whirlwind that made him that much more grateful for his final stop.
“It means a lot,” Muscala said of his time with the Thunder back in May. “I went through a lot in my life when I was here, just the city, the fans, the way that they support the team, what the team means to the community, those are things that I feel like I can relate to.
“I’ll always be a Thunder fan no matter what happens in my life.”
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