While he may not be as notable as two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson was still a player who spent most of his career playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. However, after all this time, the massive man announced his departure from the league.
The Bucks star entered the NBA after a successful college career at the University of North Carolina, where he earned recognition as a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Henson was selected 14th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2012 NBA Draft. He played for the Bucks for approx for six seasonsshowing off his defensive skills and rebounding ability. Notably, he recorded a career-high 28 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in April 2013. Henson spent his time with the Bucks, including making significant contributions off the bench and becoming known for his shot-blocking ability.
In December 2018, the Bucks massive man was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he continued to showcase his defensive talents. He later joined the Detroit Pistons in February 2020 in a trade deal. During his NBA career, he averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 445 regular season appearances.
After a compact stint with the New York Knicks in 2021 and an attempt at playing internationally, Henson announced that he would be retiring from professional basketball in September 2024. His career, marked by defensive accolades and forceful performances, cemented his reputation as a valuable player in the league at the time.
Former Milwaukee Bucks star John Henson confirms his departure from the NBA
Even though he hadn’t played an NBA game in years, Henson still had a chance to come back and do it. But according to an article by Kurt Helin for NBC Sports,
Henson said he retired from basketball to focus on his television career speaking with RG.org’s Spencer Davies.
“I’m fed up bro lol,” Henson texted RG.org, including an elderly man emoji as an explanation. “I was very happy that I could play for so long. That’s a lot of possibilities, man. It’s just a matter of one step at a time. I’m only 33 years old, so I have time to reflect and think about what I want to do next. This is just the next step and we’ll see where it takes me. But so far, very good. Third year out of the NBA, being able to do it all [with] all these companies and to have kind of fueled that interest, I’m grateful.”
Henson officially announced his retirement from professional basketball after seven seasons in the NBA. At age 33, Henson is turning his attention to broadcasting, taking on roles as a color commentator for ACC games and an analyst for SiriusXM, beginning a fresh chapter in his career.
The former North Carolina forward, known for his defensive skills, expressed gratitude for his time in the league. We hope that his post-NBA career will provide Henson with fulfillment and purpose in everything he does.
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