Former Phoenix Suns great and current Cleveland Cavalier forward Shawn Marion has announced he will retire at the end of the 2014/2015 season.
An interview with the Arizona Republic, Marion said, “I wanted to go out on my own terms. The biggest thing is having a son (eight-month-old Shawn Jr.). I got attached to him. Seeing him periodically is hard. Watching him grow up on pictures and video is hard.”
Marion, or "The Matrix," will be remembered as a small forward who could play big, excelled at man defense, and could hit the three-pointer from the corner.
When playing for Phoenix, Marion averaged 18.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was also a valuable role player when playing for the Dallas Mavericks alongside Tyson Chandler when they stopped current teammate LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.
Marion will continue playing basketball, just not professionally. He spent part of last offseason playing in a 35-and-older league in Chicago.
In his 15-year career, Marion also played for the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.
"It's been a great ride," Marion said. "I really wish I could've brought a championship to Phoenix. But it was awesome."