Former Slam Dunk champion Terrence Ross retires from the NBA

Thank you, Terrence Ross! (Brian Fluharty/USA Today)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

One of the most explosive dunkers in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) just called it a career after 11 seasons.

Congratulations on your retirement, Terrence Ross.

The high-flying guard officially announced his retirement during an episode in his podcast, The T. Ross Podcast, uploaded last December 2, 2023.

“I think now that especially some time has passed. I think I’m done. I think I got all the basketball out of me,” Ross said.

Ross was selected by the Toronto Raptors as the eighth overall pick during the 2012 NBA Rookie Draft and immediately made an impact with his microwave scoring.

Formerly known as the “Human Torch” due to his ability to provide instant scoring off the bench, Ross averaged 11 points per game in his 11-year NBA career.

As a rookie, Ross first made a name for himself after being hailed as the 2013 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk King.

A year after winning the Slam Dunk, Ross made history after becoming the first player to score 50 or more points while averaging fewer than 11 points per contest.

After his stint with the Raptors, Ross was shipped to the Orlando Magic and averaged a career-high in scoring with 15 points per game.

His last destination was with the Phoenix Suns where he helped Kevin Durant and Devin Booker reach the Western Conference semifinals.

“I’ve had enough. I had a great time. Knees are kinda hurtin’, body’s a little banged up, not a little banged up, I had some surgeries, but I don’t know, man,” added Ross.