Former Lakers Guard Announces Retirement After Long Career
The Los Angeles Lakers have had many players pass through their prestigious organization over the years, with some staying long-term while others have brief stints in the purple and gold.
One player with a short tenure in Los Angeles is point guard D.J. Augustin, who remains a part of the Lakers family. Augustin recently announced his retirement from basketball after 14 seasons in the NBA. Although he played only 21 games for the Lakers, they are part of his extensive basketball journey.
Augustin was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2008 NBA Draft after attending the University of Texas, where he was named to the First-Team All Big-12 Team in 2008. This led to him being selected ninth overall, as Charlotte viewed him as their future point guard. He scored 12 points and recorded two assists in his debut, averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 assists per game in his rookie season.
He spent several seasons with the Bobcats before moving to the Indiana Pacers in 2012. After one year with Indiana, he joined the Toronto Raptors. From 2013 to 2016, Augustin played for the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. He then joined the Orlando Magic for the following seasons.
Following his time with the Magic, Augustin played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and eventually the Lakers, where he averaged 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He shot 42.6 percent from three-point range with Los Angeles, but the team did not qualify for the playoffs during his time there and he did not return for the next season.
He rejoined the Rockets but did not appear in any games. After waiting for another opportunity that never came, Augustin decided to retire. Although he never made an All-Star team or won a championship, he had a commendable career, recognized as a reliable backup point guard. Over 976 games played, he averaged 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.