Former Blazer Henderson Jr. Reflects on Retirement

Former Portland Trail Blazer Gerald Henderson Jr, who played on the team during the 2015-16 season, recently wrote about coming to terms with his early retirement from the NBA for Closeup360. In the piece, Henderson Jr. reflects on how although his repeated injuries may have forced him from the basketball court, they have not left him without additional opportunities. Henderson Jr. announced his retirement in the piece, noting it followed an Achilles tear.

With a torn Achilles, I could have tried to come back and still play. But immediately, I was just was, like, I’ve had enough, because the process of surgery, which a lot of athletes know, it’s painstaking.

It takes time and you go through a lot of pain. You go through a lot of stress and mental pain and frustration—all that stuff. And I’ve been through a good amount of it with the amount of surgeries that I’ve had, especially coming back and the way that I did from the hip surgery. It was a big hit for me. So it’s not that I didn’t feel like I could come back, but it just wasn’t worth it to me.

Henderson Jr. writes at length about what is still out there for him outside of basketball: his family, real estate opportunities, and charity golf tournaments. Additionally, he began broadcasting this year for the Charlotte Hornets.

Rip City wishes Henderson Jr. the best in his post-career pursuits. You can read the full story by clicking here.