Gary Payton to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Payton fans. Speculation had been rife that Glove is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 57, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a basketball player isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a basketball player just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouGary

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouGary was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Gary Payton was unlike any other basketball player we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouGary”
— @universalObserver, 20 Mar 2026

“Payton wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 Mar 2026

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