Rodney Hood Retires from Professional Basketball, Pursues Coaching

After a professional basketball career spanning over a decade, Rodney Hood has announced his retirement. The 32-year-old athlete, who spent eight years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and two years in the G League, is looking to start a new chapter as a coach.

Hood, whose last stint was with the Memphis Hustle during the 2023-24 season, was forced to make the difficult decision after yet another injury. He expressed his intentions to ESPN‘s Dave McMenamin, stating, «I want to coach.»

Drafted as the 23rd overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft, Hood made his mark in the league with an average of 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Over his career, he played for six NBA teams, providing him with a wealth of experience and insight as he plans to transition into coaching.

Reflecting on his career, Hood quoted the famous «Man in the Arena» speech by Theodore Roosevelt to describe his journey, noting, «I was in the arena. I wasn’t the best player, but I got the chance to be around and play against some of the best players that ever played.»

Hood’s career was dotted with challenges, including dealing with injuries and experiencing team trades. He described his varied roles, from being a key second option in the game to sitting on the bench, as enriching experiences that he plans to leverage in his new role as a mentor and coach to emerging talent.