Rodney Hood, the former Utah Jazz wing, announced his retirement from the NBA on Thursday after an eight-year career. Hood’s last NBA appearance was in April 2022 with the Los Angeles Clippers. He shared the news on social media, with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reporting the announcement.
Hood, a 6-8 guard/forward, played for several teams during his career, including the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Clippers. After playing for the Clippers, Hood made a brief comeback attempt with the Memphis Hustle in the G League last season. However, an injury ultimately ended his playing career, leading to his decision to retire.
Selected by the Utah Jazz as the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Hood expressed gratitude toward the Jazz organization for giving him his start. He credited Dennis Lindsey and Quin Snyder for providing him the opportunity to play early in his career. “A lot of young players don’t get an opportunity to play right away and make a name for themselves, and I was able to do that,” Hood said in his retirement post.
Hood quickly became a regular in the Jazz rotation, starting 21 games as a rookie and averaging 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds. By his second season, he was a full-time starter, continuing to be a key offensive contributor for the Jazz over the next few years. Hood fondly remembered playing for Coach Quin Snyder, saying, “Playing for Quin was a joy.”
During his career, Hood played 227 of his 448 NBA games with the Jazz, averaging 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. His contributions with the Jazz, including a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, are part of his lasting legacy in the league.
