Retirement at age 30. Sounds nice, right?
For Washington Wizards wing Martell Webster, it represents an unfortunate but possibly realistic plan. Still just 27, Webster has three years remaining on his contract and has eyes on hanging 'em up when that deal runs out in 2017, a few months before his 31st birthday.
"I know this game is probably not going to be the healthiest thing for me if I try to stretch it out as much as a possibly can,” Webster said Thursday. “So I intend to really give everything I got for these last three years of my contract and probably walk away from this game so I can be healthy."
The health issue Webster is referring to is a troublesome back, one that required a third surgery in four years this offseason. Before the procedure, he says he would wake up in agony every day, having a hard time getting out of bed thanks to a herniated disc in his lower back.
Webster isn't expected to rejoin the Wizards until close to the turn of the calendar, and while he's "ahead of schedule," he's yet to be cleared for contact. If he returns pain-free and effective, his retirement plans may change, or they may not.
“I’ve always wanted to retire young,” Webster said. “I love this game and I respect this game, but I only want to be in it as long as I can be effective and as long as I can feel comfortable."
A lot can happen in three seasons, but Webster is in a good spot. Going to the NBA right out of high school in 2005, he stands to have earned an estimated $50.7 million by the end of his contract and has a fledgling career as a rapper, under the name Sui Generis.
While he figures that all out, the Wizards hope to have him back and producing by mid-season. Over the last two seasons in Washington, Webster has averaged 10.6 points and shot 40.7 percent on threes, proving a valuable piece for a Wizards team devoid of wing depth.
