ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 31: Michael Kidd Gilchrist of the Charlotte Hornets against the #14 shoot … [+]
After staying out of the news headlines for several months, former NBA forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist recently reappeared in the news cycle, but not for play. He showed up in the crowd at his Wildcats game against his alma mater, Kentucky.
Combined with a similar situation last season where Kidd-Gilchrist said he wasn’t prioritizing play as much as he used to, it gives the distinct impression that he may be done with the game. In the article, Kidd-Gilchrist made it clear that he was not retiring. But he’s been through a 17-month period of basketball unemployment since he last said that, and it’s starting to look like what’s been a while away has turned into a permanent change.
If so, it’s an unusual move. These should be MKG’s prime, as he hasn’t turned 30 yet in nine months. But since he appeared in 74 games in the 2017-18 season, Kidd-Gilchrist has taken less than a minute in his NBA and has not signed to any other league.
The following season, the Charlotte Hornets finally pulled him out of the lineup after six years as a starter, recording 1,179 minutes in 64 appearances, all but three of which came off the bench. Despite being fairly effective in this relief role, the following season saw the Hornets purchase the final season of his big second contract, leaving him with only a further 12-game spot in the final stages of the shortened 2019/20 season. didn’t play. minimum wage deal with the Dallas Mavericks.