Jefferson wants to play 1 more year, prioritizing mentorship over rings

Richard Jefferson has pretty much done it all.

The 17-year NBA pro sits 96 points shy of 15,000 for his career. He starred on some memorable New Jersey Nets teams early in his career, then gracefully transitioned to role player - part of the reason he was finally able to add a championship to his resume with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

Now, deep into his third act and admittedly knocking on retirement's door, Jefferson just wants one more season - but it has to be the right fit.

"Unfortunately, I'm the beggar and I'm a chooser. I have some things that I'm interested in that I like to do. But am I going to uproot my family and just move to a random city?" Jefferson said on ESPN Friday, as transcribed by BSNDenver's Harrison Wind. "Because I only want to play basketball for one more year. One more year of basketball is all I have."

Instead of joining a contender, Jefferson says he is prioritizing an opportunity where he can mentor young players.

"I can leave a lasting impression if I take a young guy under my wing and I can mentor him and watch him play for the next 10 years and be happy for his success because I felt like I contributed to it," Jefferson explained. "It's not about contending for a championship. I've played in four NBA Finals. I've been to the playoffs 13 times. I've won a championship. I don't need to just go chase one right now."