Connect with us

Cats in the NBA

After 17 seasons, Kentucky great Nazr Mohammed retires from the NBA

Former Wildcat Nazr Mohammed has decided to retire from the NBA. Mohammed played 17 seasons and played on 8 different teams.

Nazr Mohammed - photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

– photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

Former Wildcat Nazr Mohammed has decided to retire from the . Mohammed played 17 seasons and played on 8 different teams. Mohammed provided significant minutes from the bench and will be missed throughout the league.

Mohammed recently wrote about his experiences on his blog stating, “So, if I'm really being honest with myself, I want to play basketball, but if I had to sign today or tomorrow, the answer would be “No!!” I look at it like this: I'm not willing to play the role that I'll be needed for right now, which is to provide veteran leadership, a locker room presence, insurance in case someone gets hurt, etc. In a few months, if the right team that has an identity and a need for what I bring calls me, then maybe.”

“This is the first time in 17 years that I'm not playing in an NBA training camp. It's kind of bittersweet.

The bitter/sad part is that I'm conditioned, mentally and physically, to be playing ball right now. Between high school, college and the pros, I've been accustomed to getting in my best shape during this time of the year for almost 25 years now. I've been working out a lot and getting prepared (from force of habit) as if I were playing. I have personal goals as far as staying in shape, and it so happens to keep me prepared to play basketball.”

Read his blog here.

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

More in Cats in the NBA