10-Year Vet With Championship Ring Retires
Former Kentucky Legend Jodie Meeks is officially retiring from professional basketball. pic.twitter.com/0MM8tUVtOf
— Kentucky Basketball (@updates_ky) September 2, 2022
Meeks had a storied career at Kentucky before entering the NBA, including setting the iconic school's single-game scoring record of 54 points while in his junior year. That year, he also recorded the most three-pointers in a season for the Wildcats, with 117.
He was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2009 and went on to play for 7 NBA teams. With the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013-14, he had his career year, notching 15.7 points per game while averaging 40% on threes at high-volume shooting. He topped the 40% mark three other times, as well.
He's currently representing the U.S. Men’s AmeriCup Team, his first taste of international basketball, in what will be his playing days swan song.
"This will be the icing on the cake.”
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 1, 2022
As Jodie Meeks approaches his new basketball career - coaching - he's hopeful he can accomplish one last dream, and that is winning a gold medal with his country in the @AmeriCup.
“You always want to have a chance to compete in the Olympics, but obviously it’s so hard to make it in America because the talent level is so high,” Meeks said. “So this would be special for me to compete and win a gold medal.
“I’m young, but in basketball, I’m a little older,” Meeks admitted. “I’m no spring chicken anymore. But that’s OK. I can still move, I still feel like I can still play. And obviously I’m out here doing well. So for my career, it’s definitely been a good one and this [AmeriCup] will be the icing on the cake.”
Next up, the 35-year-old Meeks will be moving on to the next phase of his career, as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans' G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron.
Photos: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports, Bill Luster/The Courier Journal
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