Russian baller Sasha Kaun was able to spend only one season in the NBA, but he made sure it was spent to the fullest as he announced his retirement from basketball after only five weeks of winning the NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 31-year-old center played most of his professional career with VTB United League and Euroleague club PBC CSKA Moscow, from 2008 to 2015, before deciding to join the Cavs in September of last year.
In six seasons with the Red Army, he averaged 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds playing in 17.8 minutes per game in 143 appearances most of the time as a starting center during the said period. His best season was his last in Europe in 2014-2015 when he averaged 9.9 points and 4.5 boards in 20.1 minutes of playing time a night in 30 games as a starter.
Last season, he was minimally utilized by head coach Tyronn Lue during actual games, but he was a key participant during the Cavs' trainings and practice sessions. He averaged only 3.8 minutes of playing time for coach Lue, producing dismal numbers of 0.9 points and 1.0 rebound per game in 25 games. Still, it would say in his résumé that he was a one-time NBA champion and that might be all he needs to say that his short NBA tenure had been worthwhile.
CBS Sports reported that the former Kansas Jayhawks standout had already seriously thought of retirement "toward the end of the (2015-2016) season" after his recent issues with his ankles.
"With the amount of pain I was going through, I just wanted to be done. It's something I've had all my career," said Kaun in an interview, referring to his right ankle problems. "It was definitely getting worse and worse, year by year. Especially coming here (one year in NBA after seven seasons in Moscow)... the intensity of the game I just kind of realized I don't think I can go and do it anymore."
Meanwhile, Fox Sports indicated that after Kaun, along with some cash considerations, was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at season's end in exchange for the rights to 25-year-old Nigerian forward Chu Maduabum, and was immediately released, he chose not to pursue a spot on any other NBA team and just decided to retire because of his recurring injuries.
"I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have. I had a great experience for the (Russian) national team and professionally. Overall, it's been phenomenal," Kaun said. "I want to say thank you to all the fans who have cheered for me in the years I was at KU and followed my career afterward as a professional."