After 11 NBA seasons, Oklahoma City Thunder big man Mike Muscala is retiring from professional basketball. Muscala, 33, was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on July 1, 1991, and was raised in the area. He attended Roseville High School and later Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He excelled at Bucknell as the 2011 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Bucknell Bison to an NCAA men’s basketball tournament appearance. He was also a 2012-13 Academic All-America selection.
Muscala, a power forward who stands at 6-foot-11 and weighs approximately 240 lbs, was selected with the 44th overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Hawks on the 2013 Draft Night and later joined the Hawks for the 2013 Summer League. He also played for Obradoiro, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Boston Celtics, the Washington Wizards, and the Detroit Pistons.
Second Stint with OKC
According to Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer Joel Lorenzi for Oklahoman Sports, Mike Muscala is retiring. Muscala’s retirement announcement came months after signing with the Thunder for a second stint on March 2, 2024.
The forward’s decision to retire shouldn’t come as a surprise though. He averaged just 3.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and a 35.9% field goal percentage last season. He also likely re-signed with the Thunder to retire in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as a “last hurrah” and “a matter of the heart.”
He spent four solid seasons with OKC before he got shuffled through three other teams making it understandable for him to want to return there for one more year.
Next Steps for Muscala
Oklahoma City Thunder veteran recently told The Oklahoman his time in the league is over. Mike’s father, Bob, said his son intends to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports management. Bob added Mike has intentions to venture into basketball coaching and/or administration. Mike said in a text, “Grateful for it all.”
Mike’s four words were short but sweet, as he was arguably a quintessential 3-and-D player in the league. His retirement will likely change the league’s landscape when it comes to 3-and-D players.
Mike Muscala Thankful for Oklahoma City Thunder
Mike Muscala’s jersey was retired at Bucknell after a four-year college basketball career. And, in his professional basketball career, Muscala averaged 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and shot 37.3% on three-pointers over 11 seasons.
Although Muscala started as a serviceable stretch big, he spent the final years of his professional basketball career as a journeyman. He told The Oklahoman in May 2024 about the difficulty of the constant shift and relocation, particularly in the past few seasons. A whirlwind that made him much more grateful for his final stop.
Muscala said:
It means a lot … I went through a lot in my life when I was here, just the city, the fans, the way that they support the team, what the team means to the community, those are things that I feel like I can relate to…I’ll always be a Thunder fan, no matter what happens in my life.
Muscala’s words were deep and emotional, to say the least. He seemed to be extremely grateful for the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, team, and fanbase. He likely wanted to re-sign with the Thunder and retire in Oklahoma City, as the city could’ve made him feel at home like a “home away from home.”
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