INDIANAPOLIS — On Friday November 13, 2026, the twelve-year forward announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association. Doug McDermott was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets before he was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls.
McDermott spent his first two-and-a-half years with the Bulls before he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a short stint with the Thunder, he was traded to the New York Knicks in a deal for Carmelo Anthony. Because he was an expiring contract, the Knicks moved on shortly from McDermott after playing 55-games for them and sent him to the Dallas Mavericks where he played next to Dirk Nowitzki and under Rick Carlisle for a brief 26 games.
Carlisle reflects on McDermott’s time in Dallas
Coach Carlisle reminisced on McDermott’s time with the Mavericks and what it was like to coach him.
“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.”
In the summer of 2018, McDermott entered unrestricted free agency and signed a 3-year 22-million-dollar contract with Indiana. McDermott stayed put with the Pacers for all three of those seasons, but was signed-and-traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the summer of 2021 for 3-years and 42-million-dollars. Indiana was able to reacquire McDermott in the final year of his contract and he was a part of the team that made the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Carlisle on McDermott’s time in Indiana with him and his overall career
Carlisle reflected on the brief time he had with him in Indiana and his overall 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.”
The former 2014 National Player of the Year spent his last two seasons in the association with the Sacramento Kings. During the first portion of his time with the Kings, he played for Knicks’ head coach Mike Brown.
Coach Mike Brown reflects on McDermott
Before the Knicks faced the Pacers on Friday night, Brown reflected on his time with McDermott and what type of player and person he was.
“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.”
At the conclusion of his answer, Brown jokingly sent a message to McDermott.
“Doug, if you get a job and I don’t have one, you’ve still got my number. Give me a call.”
Doug’s father and head coach at Creighton on his son’s career
Seeing his son grow into a National Player of the Year during his senior season at Creighton had to be an incredible experience for coach Greg McDermott. It isn’t often you find a player as talented as Doug spend four years in college and play all four of those seasons under his father’s coaching.
I reached out to Doug’s father for a statement on his son’s decision to retire, and Coach Greg sent me these remarks:
“We couldn’t be more proud of the way Doug has represented himself during his 12-year NBA career. He brought an incredible work ethic and professionalism to the locker room every single day. We look forward to him enjoying the next chapter of his life.”
Greg McDermott: Doug’s Father and Coach
A solid career for the journeyman wing
The former lottery pick finished his career playing in 726 games. He scored a total of 6,162 points on 46.8% shooting from the field and 41% from three-point range. His best season came with the Pacers in 2020-21 when he averaged 13.6 points per game, 3,3 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
He scored a career-high 31 points twice. Once with the Bulls against the Memphis Grizzlies and against the Thunder while he was on the Pacers. He played 14,011 minutes, spent time with 7 different teams and was a beloved teammate and player.
From his debut on October 29, 2014 to his finale on April 12, 2026, everyone will remember the career of Dougie McBuckets. A lights-out three-point shooter who always found a way to impact the game with whatever team he was on.
You can follow me on X @AlexGoldenNBA and listen to my daily podcast, Setting The Pace, wherever you get your podcasts.
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