Richard Jefferson Admits He Chose to Retire Over Joining New York Knicks

For many years, the New York Knicks have been considered an embarrassment from top to bottom. This fact has made them fodder for the entire NBA.

During Sunday’s contest between the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, former Cleveland Cavaliers player Richard Jefferson revealed just how pitiful he thinks the New York franchise is.

“I refuse to play for the Knicks,” said Jefferson. “Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, they don’t really care. Me, I was the one person who said, ‘Knicks? No, I’ll retire.’ That’s why I retired. They were the one team that offered me a job and I decided to retire.”

Jefferson said this on a broadcast on the YES Network, which televises Brooklyn Nets games.

Jefferson broke into the NBA in 2001-02 for the Nets, who were then based in East Rutherford, N.J. With the Knicks going through a lull after the departure of Patrick Ewing, the Nets were the best team in the New York area back then, going to two straight NBA Finals.

While the Knicks still haven’t recovered to this day, the Nets have plenty of hope. That’s thanks much in part to newcomer Kyrie Irving and the anticipated return of Kevin Durant when he heals from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Although Irving’s presence hasn’t translated into a lot of success yet for the Nets, they did best their crosstown rivals on Sunday, 103-101.