Former OKC Thunder Alex Abrines retires from basketball

A fan favorite for his beard celebrations after every bucket, Alex Abrines announced his retirement on Tuesday. He spent three seasons on the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2016-19.

Drafted with the No. 32 pick of the 2013 NBA draft, Abrines was your classic draft-and-stash candidate. He stayed in Spain for three more years before finally making the NBA jump on the Thunder in 2016.

He was a popular role player during his brief time in OKC. Abrines was the textbook catch-and-shoot player that Russell Westbrook thrived in when he attacked the teeth of the defense.

His stay was cut short as both sides decided to part ways for personal reasons when he missed a handful of games in a row. He returned to Spain and played there for six more years before he announced his retirement. The 31-year-old surprised most with the announcement.

Abrines averaged 5.3 points and 1.4 rebounds during his time on the Thunder. He shot 36.8% from 3 on 3.4 attempts.

Gracias por todo, baloncesto ❤️🏀 pic.twitter.com/4UjRjHdPEp

— Alex Abrines (@alexabrines) July 22, 2025

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Former OKC Thunder Alex Abrines retires from basketball