Sasha Kaun retires after wining title with Cavaliers

Sasha Kaun spent just one season in the NBA, but he got more out of it then some longer tenured players. And as of today, he retired a champion.

Per an article on the KUsports.com Kaun is retiring because of a bad ankle and has been considering retirement for a little while now. From the article:

“I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have. I had a great experience for the (Russian) national team and professionally. Overall, it’s been phenomenal,” Kaun said Saturday in a phone conversation with the Journal-World from Colorado, where he lives with wife, Taylor, daughter Nika (3) and son Maks (9 months old).

“I want to say thank you to all the fans who have cheered for me in the years I was at KU and followed my career afterward as a professional. I’m happy to be a Jayhawk and look forward to seeing everybody once I’m back at the games (as fan). I’m just excited to be part of the (KU) family.”

Kaun said he started thinking seriously about retirement “toward the end of the season. I kind of feel my ankle has been bothering me awhile. With the amount of pain I was going through, I just wanted to be done. It’s something I’ve had all my career,” he added of right ankle problems. “It was definitely getting worse and worse, year by year. Especially coming here (one year in NBA after seven seasons in Moscow) ... the intensity of the game I just kind of realized I don’t think I can go and do it any more.

“I said, ‘You know what? I’m not going to be happy playing. I’m not going to be happy not playing. I think it’s a good time to call it quits.’’’

Kaun, 31, played 25 with the Cavs after spending seven seasons with CSKA Moscow in his native Russia. Recently, Cleveland traded Kaun to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a salary dump and the 76ers subsequently released Kaun.

Kaun retires not only with an NBA championship, but also with a college title at Kansas and a bronze medal from the 2012 Olympics. That’s not a bad resume.