Doug McDermott has called it a career.
On Friday, November 13, 2026, the former Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks forward announced his retirement from the NBA after 12 seasons in the league. McDermott entered the NBA as the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Denver Nuggets, who traded him on draft night to the Chicago Bulls.
His career took him across the league in a long string of moves, starting with two-and-a-half seasons in Chicago before a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder. From there, he landed with the Knicks in the deal for Carmelo Anthony. New York kept him for 55 games before moving him to the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent 26 games alongside Dirk Nowitzki and under Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle looked back on that Dallas stretch and the way McDermott fit into the group.
"The first time I worked with him was in Dallas, he came to us in a trade," Carlisle said. "He had a really good two months playing on our second unit.
It was very memorable because it was a group that was very fun to watch and coach. It was (JJ) Berea, (Yogi Ferrell), Doug (McDermott), (Dirk) Nowitzki --who was starting and then bumping back with those guys-- and Dwight Powell.
All were great ball movers, skill guys and guys who love to play. It was fun to watch."
McDermott’s next major stop came in 2018, when he hit unrestricted free agency and signed a 3-year, 22-million-dollar deal with Indiana. He spent all three seasons with the Pacers before a sign-and-trade sent him to the San Antonio Spurs in the summer of 2021 on a 3-year, 42-million-dollar contract. Indiana later brought him back for the final year of that deal, and he was part of the Pacers team that reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Carlisle also spoke about McDermott’s time in Indiana and the reputation he carried throughout his career.
"Doug was an amazing shooter, especially coming out of that left corner. He would make everything," Carlisle said.
"Congratulations to him on a great career. He was back with us again (the Pacers) briefly a couple of years ago.
Great guy. Always a great teammate.
Always very well thought of."
McDermott spent his final two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, including part of that run under Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Before New York faced Indiana on Friday night, Brown offered his own take on McDermott’s career and character.
"Great dude. Can't ask for a better human being," Coach Brown said.
"Obviously a great basketball player, had a fantastic career. He’s charismatic and will be able to anything that he wants, whether it’s in the basketball world or not."
Brown ended with a joke aimed at McDermott.
"Doug, if you get a job and I don’t have one, you’ve still got my number. Give me a call."
McDermott’s college path made the retirement news feel even more personal for his family. He spent four seasons at Creighton and became the National Player of the Year during his senior season while playing for his father, Greg McDermott.
The former lottery pick finished with 726 games played, 6,162 points, a 46.8% mark from the field and 41% from three. His best scoring season came in 2020-21 with Indiana, when he averaged 13.6 points, 3,3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
He posted a career-high 31 points twice, once with the Bulls against the Memphis Grizzlies and once with the Pacers against the Thunder. Over the course of his career, he logged 14,011 minutes, played for seven different teams and built a reputation as a valued teammate.
From his debut on October 29, 2014 to his final game on April 12, 2026, McDermott’s run in the league ended the way it was lived: as a sharp-shooting forward who could fit anywhere and help any team.
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