Former Panathinaikos guard TJ Bray announces retirement at 29 / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Imago Sport – Scanpix Credit Imago Sport – Scanpix

At the age of 29, former FC Bayern Munich and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens guard T. J. Bray decided to retire from professional basketball. The American combo guard was included in Dimitris Priftis 'plans for the upcoming season with Panathinaikos, but just three weeks ago he informed the team that he will be not returning to Athens for personal reasons. In fact, he was so confident in his decision that he also put a $ 100,000 clause in case he returned to Europe to play for another team.Ultimately, his decision was not a 12-month break, due to injuries or personal issues, but to make a big change in his life. Bray graduated from Princeton in 2014 and after going undrafted, he joined Pallacanestro Trapani and Casale Monferrato in Italy, Basic-Fit in Brussels, Kolossos Rhodes in Greece, Rasta Vechta and Bayern Munich in Germany, Zaragoza in Spain, before finishing his playing time at Panathinaikos.

In an Instagram post, Bray issued a farewell note to basketball and thanked those who helped him throughout his career.

"I have decided to retire from professional basketball. These past 7 years have truly surpassed my wildest expectations and dreams. I am so grateful to have ever had the opportunity to play overseas. I want to thank all my teammates, coaches, and fans for the journey we’ve had together. In the biggest of wins, the worst of losses, and the grind of two-a-day practices, we made special memories that I will always hold dearly in my heart. Thank you all for the influence you all had in who I was able to become as a player. More importantly, thank you all for the experiences we had off the court. You introduced me to new cultures and ways of life. I am so thankful for the changes I’ve gone through as a man.Also, a major thanks to my fiancee, my family, my friends, and fans back home who supported me every step of the way in achieving my goals and dreams. All the visits, FaceTimes and texts mean more than you will ever know. I know following basketball on another continent isn’t the easiest but knowing I had a world of support behind me helped me get through even the toughest of times.I hope all the friends and family I’ve made overseas never fade. See you all again someday," Bray wrote.

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