Richard Jefferson was irrelevant. Once a long-time NBA starter, Jefferson, 35, had seen his role diminish in recent years. In March 2012, Jefferson was traded from the Spurs to the Warriors. After starting 690 of his first 774 NBA games, Jefferson moved to a reserve role in Golden State. In his one full season at Oracle Arena, in 2012-13, Jefferson averaged a career-low 3.1 points per game.
Oracle Arena is where his career ended. But in a surprise twist, he ended it as an NBA champion.
"Why are you talking to me about basketball?" Jefferson asked Fox Sports Ohio's Allie Clifton, while being interviewed in the Cavs' locker room after Cleveland's 93-89 NBA Finals Game 7 win over the Warriors. "I am retiring."
Jefferson added at the end of the interview, "I'm not here right now."
Jefferson averaged 5.5 points this season in Cleveland, but he brought his game to another level in the postseason. After averaging just 17.9 minutes per game in the regular season, Jefferson clocked 24.0 minutes per game in the NBA Finals, averaging 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.
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