Report: Darren Collison Won't Return to NBA This Season Despite Lakers, Clippers Interest
Free agent point guard Darren Collison won't be coming back to the NBA this season after all. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Collison has decided that he plans to remain retired, informing teams that the timing isn't right.
In late June, the UCLA product announced his abrupt retirement, following 10 years in the league. Collison said he wanted to concentrate on helping the less fortunate through his Jehovah's Witness faith.
"I could never imagine finding anything that brings me more joy than I get from playing the game," Collison wrote in an article for The Undefeated. "While I still love basketball, I know there is something more important, which is my family and my faith. I am one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and my faith means everything to me. I receive so much joy from volunteering to help others and participate in a worldwide ministry. The joy I feel is unmatched. With that being said, I have decided to retire from the NBA."
However, he was reportedly set to meet with the Lakers and Clippers this week to discuss a return. The UCLA product sat even courtside with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss at Thursday's game against the Rockets.
On Thursday's trade deadline special of ESPN's "The Jump," Matt Barnes said that Collison texted him and said he's "50/50" right now on coming back. But his decision appears to have been made up.
Collison, 32, averaged 12.5 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 39.4% from three in 10 seasons, including two years under current Lakers coach Frank Vogel from 2010 to 2012 with the Pacers.
