DJ Augustin, the crafty point guard who danced around defenders for 14 seasons, is hanging up his sneakers.
Farewell to a Hoops Journey
So DJ Augustin, the guy who made a career out of proving doubters wrong, announced on Instagram that he’s calling it quits. At 5’11”, he wasn’t the tallest guy on the court, but man, did he play with heart! From his days dreaming in New Orleans to a 15-year NBA journey, he’s got stories for days. In his own words, “Basketball has been more than a sport, itโs been a journey filled with unforgettable memories, friendships, lessons, and experiences beyond the court.” And honestly, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Check out his full farewell message here:
?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loadingFrom Rookie to Sixth Man Contender
Remember back in 2008 when the Charlotte Bobcats snagged him as the ninth pick? Yeah, DJ was fresh out of Texas, where he was teammates with some guy named Kevin Durant. He quickly made a name for himself, landing on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. By the 2013-14 season, he was lighting it up, splitting time between the Raptors and Bulls, and even finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Not too shabby, right? I think he was one of those underrated players who always found a way to make an impact.
Scoring Spree and Final Days
DJ had some wild nights, like dropping a career-high 35 points against the Raptors in 2015 with the Pistons. He was on fire, hitting 60% from the field and draining threes like nobody’s business. Fast forward to his last NBA gig with the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, and you see a guy who consistently brought his A-game. Across 976 games, he averaged 9.5 points, 3.9 assists, and shot a cool 38.1% from downtown. Not bad for a journeyman, huh?
Longhorn Legacy
Before the NBA, DJ was tearing it up at Texas alongside KD. He was a standout, earning spots on the All-Big 12 Second Team and the USBWA All-America First Team. Oh, and he snagged the Bob Cousy Award too. Fun fact: he could’ve joined Durant in the 2007 draft but chose to stay in school. Talk about dedication!
So, what’s next for DJ? Who knows, but one thing’s for sureโhis love for the game isn’t going anywhere. As he said, “I may be retiring as a player, but Iโll always be connected to this game we all love.” What do you think? Could we see him courtside as a coach someday?
