NBA Players Retiring Early? Bucks' Korver May Follow Williams In Retirement

A slew of retirements could face the NBA as the playoffs head to the conference finals.

After bowing out of contention on Tuesday, Milwaukee Bucks forward Marvin Williams has announced his retirement from the league. Williams played in all 9 playoff games this season, averaging 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

Williams, 34, told ESPN the news after the top-seeded team, the Bucks, lost the series to 5th seed Miami Heat, 1-4. He posted 11 points and eight rebounds in his last game in the NBA.

"I've been very blessed. God has been very, very good to me," said Williams.

Another Bucks star could also be hanging his jersey after this season. Kyle Korver is considering retirement after playing 17 seasons in the league. The 51st overall pick in the 2003 draft, Korver became an All Star in 2015 and won the NBA Sportsmanship Award the same year. He averaged a career 9.7 points and three rebounds on an 87.7% free throw shooting and 42.9% from long range, while making 2,450 three pointers in his career.

The 39-year-old told ESPN he will talk with his family before making his decision.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the professional sports sphere this year. In most leagues like the NBA, games are held in a bubble to make sure all athletes are safe from the coronavirus while also avoiding its spread.

With the abrupt end of the NBA season and a rather quick turnaround in the playoffs, fans could have seen the last of some of their favorite stars.

As for the NBA playoffs bracket, the Heat becomes the first team to take a seat in the conference finals and will face either the Boston Celtics or the Toronto Raptors in the East. In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers continue to take on their respective foes in the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets.