2012 First-Round Pick Jared Sullinger Announces Retirement After 14-Year Career Plagued by Injuries

Former NBA and CBA center Jared Sullinger officially announced his retirement, ending a 14-year professional basketball career. The 34-year-old veteran also confirmed that he will return to his alma mater, Ohio State University, to serve as director of basketball operations.

The Starting Point as a First-Round Pick and the Shadow of Injuries

In the 2012 NBA Draft, Sullinger was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 21st overall pick in the first round. Although his career was consistently affected by knee and back injuries, he still established himself in the NBA with his solid post skills and strong rebounding ability. During his four seasons with the Celtics, he was once one of the team's most energetic interior scoring and rebounding contributors, and he later also played for the Toronto Raptors.

NBA Career Statistics Set

Throughout his NBA career, Sullinger played 269 regular-season games, averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. After leaving the NBA, he moved overseas and began a nine-year journey across various leagues, including China's CBA League, South Korea's KBL League, and Puerto Rico's league.

From a first-round pick to traveling through multiple international leagues, Sullinger's career was marked by his continued battle with injuries. Now choosing retirement and returning to his alma mater, the interior player will begin a new chapter in life.