5 NBA players we might have seen the last of

It's unclear whether the global COVID-19 pandemic will force the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA campaign. However, if it does, it will bring an end to at least two noteworthy basketball careers. For many others, the decision will be made for them.

When the season was suspended March 11, veterans Jamal Crawford and Pau Gasol weren't on NBA rosters, but were still looking for jobs. Both turn 40 this year. Inside the league, others were planning retirements, while more were facing expiring contracts and the unwinnable battle against Father Time.

Here are five notable NBA players we may have seen the last of:

Udonis Haslem

South Florida may forever be D-Wade County, but the heart and soul of the Heat for 17 years has been Haslem. The native of Miami's Overtown neighbourhood started at power forward early in his career, but evolved into the consummate locker room veteran - winning three NBA titles along the way. Haslem, who turns 40 in June, announced before the season started that this would be his last.

Tyson Chandler

Chandler had hinted this season might be his last, and he's on an expiring contract with the Houston Rockets. He played in just 26 games before the stoppage, and if he retires, it will end one of the more underrated careers of the last two decades.

The second pick in the 2001 draft currently ranks third in all-time NBA field-goal percentage. The 37-year-old only played in one All-Star Game, but was also the 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time All-Defensive Team member.

Kyle Korver

There's been no indication Korver is at the end of his career, but he's 39 and on an expiring deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. And as Crawford has discovered, there isn't always a market for one's services.

Whenever he's done playing, Korver will go down as one of the most lights-out shooters in NBA history. Only Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Stephen Curry have more career 3-pointers.

Carmelo Anthony

It appeared to many that Anthony was at the end of the line before the Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a contract for the rest of this season in November. In the ensuing 50 games he showed flashes of his old brilliance, hitting 37% of his 3-point attempts while averaging 15.3 points.

Yet the fit with the struggling Blazers is somewhat a stopgap, and he turns 36 in May. When all is said and done, Melo will go down as a polarizing player and a likely Hall of Famer who, for a few years, was probably the best pure scorer in the league.

Vince Carter

One of the last NBA games played on March 11 was between Carter's Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks. The 42-year-old checked in with under 20 seconds left and drilled a trey.

"If that was the last game and that was the last shot, I made my last shot and I'm cool with it, and I feel good about my career and how things ended," he later said.

Carter's career will go down as one of the most unique in the NBA. In addition to being the longest-ever at 22 seasons, his transition from Michael Jordan's heir apparent to content role player and veteran leader hasn't been seen before. His influence putting basketball on the map in Canada is another notable accomplishment.