Former NBA star Rodney Hood announces shock retirement at age just 32

After eight years in the NBA, Rodney Hood has announced his retirement from professional basketball. Hood last played in the NBA in 2022 for the Los Angeles Clippers and his most recent professional action came in the G League for the Memphis Hustle. Hood's time in the G League was to make an NBA comeback after being out of the league for two seasons. After multiple injuries toward the end of his career, Hood knew it was time to retire from professional basketball, per ESPN. Hood's statement on retiring gives thanks to many people throughout the phases of his career, including his time at Duke. Hood played collegiately for both Mississippi State and Duke before making his way to the NBA. Hood was traded four times during his NBA career as he never truly solidified himself in an NBA rotation outside of his first few seasons with the Utah Jazz. Hood's statement also clarifies that he would like to get into coaching now that his active basketball career is over. He was part of three playoff teams in the NBA, most notably the 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers squad that reached the finals before being swept by the Golden State Warriors. 'It was tough to retire. But I'm at peace with it. I tried really hard to hold on. I had an Achilles tear and I was kind of a shell of myself,' Hood said. 'When I got a chance to get healthy again, I tried to play in the G League this past spring and got hurt again. It was just my body telling me that I needed to move on.'