[Leftcoast]

Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.

Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .

It's interesting that not many of those names are in the NBA and so many are in the NFL where physical decline is so precipitous.  Personally, I want Curry to go out like Magic, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon and Dirk.  Not like Montana and Lott both of whom were disgruntled and, when scratched, are still bitter.  Here's a quote I never want to hear from Steph Curry.

"I should have never had to leave. Why wasn't I allowed to compete for the job? I just had one of the best years I'd ever had. I could understand if I wasn't playing well. We had just won two Super Bowls and I had one of my best years and we were winning in the championship game when I got hurt," Montana lamented. "How do I not get an opportunity? That's the hardest part." 

Why am I not allowed in the facility? What did I do to not be allowed in the facility? They wouldn't even let me dress."  

(Joe Montana, 2023 ESPN article so almost 30 years after his retirement.)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3560...super-bowl

[Leftcoast]

Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.

Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .

It's interesting that not many of those names are in the NBA and so many are in the NFL where physical decline is so precipitous.  Personally, I want Curry to go out like Magic, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon and Dirk.  Not like Montana and Lott both of whom were disgruntled and, when scratched, are still bitter.  Here's a quote I never want to hear from Steph Curry.

"I should have never had to leave. Why wasn't I allowed to compete for the job? I just had one of the best years I'd ever had. I could understand if I wasn't playing well. We had just won two Super Bowls and I had one of my best years and we were winning in the championship game when I got hurt," Montana lamented. "How do I not get an opportunity? That's the hardest part." 

Why am I not allowed in the facility? What did I do to not be allowed in the facility? They wouldn't even let me dress."  

(Joe Montana, 2023 ESPN article so almost 30 years after his retirement.)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3560...super-bowl