After 11 seasons in the NBA, big man Mike Muscala has retired from the game of basketball, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. According to Muscala’s father, Bob, the 2013 second-round pick “intends to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports management, with intentions to venture into basketball coaching and/or administration.”
Muscala began his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks, where he spent most of his time in the league. In five seasons with the Hawks, Muscala averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The Minnesota native also spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and most recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For his career, Muscala averaged 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Furthermore, he shot 45.1% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc.
11-Year NBA Big Man Officially Announces His Retirement
Mike Muscala Will “Always Be a Thunder Fan”
Although he played for seven teams in the NBA, it appears Muscala appreciated his time in Oklahoma City the most. Muscala played parts of five seasons with the Thunder over two stints. While with the Thunder, Muscala played alongside players Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, and Gordon Hayward. Following his most recent stint with the Thunder, the Bucknell alum spoke about how much his time with the team meant to him.
Mike Muscala on his time with the Thunder: “It means a lot. Went through a lot in my life when I was here. Just the city and fans, the way they support the team… I’ll always be a Thunder fan no matter what. I’ll be a fan for life.”
While with the Thunder, Muscala appeared in 184 games. In those games, he averaged 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Former Detroit Pistons Coach Praised Mike Muscala
Although he only played 13 games for the team last season, Muscala left an impression on then Pistons head coach Monty Williams. The Pistons acquired Muscala in a trade during the 2023-24 season. And even though he did not last too long in Detroit, Williams spoke highly of Muscala’s ability to adjust.
“He’s one of those guys that can figure things out. He’s smart. He knows when to dive, when to pop. He’s a connector on both sides of the floor. I don’t think it’s anything we’ve done. That’s just who Mike is, he can play with anybody.”
Additionally, Williams praised Muscala, along with Danilo Gallinari, who was also included in the trade, for his savviness and character.
“If you look around the league at young teams, what they’ve done is surround their guys with savvy, experienced guys who can still play. Anytime you can do that with high-character guys like Mike and Gallo, it’s going to be a benefit for your team.”
The Last Word on Mike Muscala
Over the course of his NBA career, Muscala developed a reputation as a good presence in the locker room who could provide solid minutes on the court. Furthermore, he seemed to be admired by his former teammates and coaches. For a second-round pick, Muscala built a solid career in the NBA.
