Former Utah Jazz Forward, Fan-Favorite Trevor Booker Announces Retirement From Basketball
Apr 14, 2020, 4:35 PM | Updated: 5:00 pm
Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Trevor Booker #33 of the Utah Jazz during their game at EnergySolutions Arena on November 5, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Jazz forward and fan-favorite player Trevor Booker announced his retirement from the game of basketball.
Booker announced his retirement with a short video and letter he posted via Twitter on Tuesday, April 14.
The former Jazzman played last in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2017-18 season.
“It’s so tough to sit here and write that I’m officially announcing my retirement from the game,” wrote Booker. “It’s definitely a bittersweet moment… Although I’m retiring, you can definitely still catch me in front of the tv every night watching league pass.”
— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) April 14, 2020
Booker played eight seasons in the league including two seasons with the Jazz.
One of the most memorable moments of Booker’s basketball career came during his time as a member of the Jazz. During a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, Booker received an inbound pass with and flung up a backward shot over his head with 0.2 seconds left. The improbable shot went in and the play has made highlight reels ever since.
January 9, 2015: @35_Fitz of the @utahjazz fooled everyone, including physics, when he got this shot to go with .2 seconds left on the shot clock. #takenote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/ZKDIJC5xwi
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) April 1, 2020
To start his professional career, Booker was drafted out of Clemson by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the No. 23 overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.
He was traded to the Washington Wizards where he played for the first four seasons of his NBA career.
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In 2014, Booker signed a deal with the Jazz. During his two seasons in Utah, he appeared in 158 games including seven starts.
During his time with the Jazz, Booker averaged 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 20.2 minutes per game.
After the 2015-16 season, the forward signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. During his last NBA season, Booker played for the Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In 2018, he signed a one-year deal with the Chinese basketball team, Shanxi Brave Dragons.
Reactions to Booker’s Retirement
Utah Jazz center retweeted Booker’s post and added “Love you brother!”
Love you brother! https://t.co/vWS31103y7
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 14, 2020
Jazz forward and fellow former teammate of Booker, Joe Ingles added his congratulations to the former Jazzman.
Congrats on your career @35_Fitz!! You were a great teammate, very glad I got the chance to play alongside you! No one can ever say you didn’t give your all!!
Thanks for the memories!! We all know this won’t be the last we hear your name! Enjoy it brother ❤️ https://t.co/5tSEjPKty9
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) April 14, 2020
Brian Skinner said his fan connection with Booker came from the forward’s “obsession with breakfast cereal.”
His obsession with breakfast cereal sealed it for me. What a guy!
— Brian Skinner (@Rushlimbang) April 14, 2020
Jazz fan Jaxson Mebius said that he liked Booker’s “hustle and how he was such a good guy.”
It's like Crowder just his hustle and how he was such a good guy
— Jaxson mebius (@jmeebs) April 14, 2020
Greg Winston also loved Booker’s “hustle.”
The hustle man. Same reason we loved Carroll.
— Greg Winston (@gwinst801) April 14, 2020
Bentley Mitchell said that Booker “played with heart and hustle” while adding “he continued to voice support for the Jazz and Jazz fans long after he was gone.”
Played with heart and hustle. And he continued to voice support for the Jazz and Jazz fans long after he was gone. (Take, for example, his response to Kanter and others who bashed the organization) He and DMC are in that same category for me.
— Bentley Mitchell (@bentleyjmitch) April 14, 2020
Crystal Noyes said that Booker “gave it his all every time” for the Jazz and he was “out there playing like it’s a one point game. Heart, Energy, Hustle.”
He gave it his all every time. We could be down 20 and he’s out there playing like it’s a one point game. Heart, Energy, Hustle 💪🏻
— Crystal Noyes (@crystalnoyes) April 14, 2020
