Jared Sullinger is done playing, but he is not leaving basketball.
The former Boston Celtics first-round pick announced his retirement at 34 and said he is returning to Ohio State as director of player development. Sullinger was the No. 21 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after his college run in Columbus, then spent several seasons in Boston before a brief stop with the Toronto Raptors and a longer overseas career.
His post framed retirement as a full-circle move rather than a clean break. Sullinger wrote that, after a lifetime of giving everything to the game, it was time to officially step away from playing. He looked back on going from “a kid with a dream in Columbus, Ohio” to wearing an Ohio State jersey, hearing his name called on draft night, representing the Celtics and then playing for teams around the world.
The career path had several chapters. Boston drafted him in 2012, and he became part of the Celtics' frontcourt during a transition period for the franchise. He later played 11 games with Toronto before continuing in China, South Korea, Puerto Rico and China again. That made the announcement less about a player disappearing from the NBA map and more about the close of a long professional run that kept going well after his last NBA appearance.
Sullinger used most of the statement to thank the people around him. He mentioned family and friends who stayed with him through the highs and lows, thanked his father Satch for laying the foundation, and called his mother the rock of that foundation. He also thanked his brothers, Jay and Jules, for shaping him, protecting him and pushing him.
Basketball names mattered in the message, too. Sullinger thanked former Ohio State coach Thad Matta for believing in him, challenging him and preparing him for what came after college. He thanked the Celtics for taking a chance on him and allowing a childhood dream to become reality. He also thanked every organization he represented across his career for trusting him to wear its name.
The family section was the most personal part of the announcement. Sullinger thanked his wife, DeAire, for “unwavering love, patience, sacrifice, and support” through every season, move, win and loss. He also addressed his children, Jared Jr., Jemma and Jayce, saying he hoped his journey showed them that dreams are worth chasing, but that the person they become along the way matters more than the accomplishments.
The next job puts him back inside the Ohio State program. Sullinger said joining the Buckeyes staff had been a dream from the moment he knew coaching would be in his future. Now he gets to come home, work with the next generation, represent the Scarlet and Gray again and give back to the school that helped launch his career.
His final line carried the whole move: “I’m hanging up the jersey, but I’m not walking away from the game. I’m just changing seats.”
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