The End of a Dependable Professional Run
When Priority Sports and agent Mark Bartelstein officially announced that Doug McDermott was retiring from professional basketball, it closed the book on a 12-year NBA career defined by floor-spacing efficiency, high basketball IQ, and role mastery. McDermott carved out a long-tenured, highly respected professional path in a league that endlessly values floor-stretching shooting. Across 726 regular-season games, he averaged 8.5 points and 2.1 rebounds while converting 41.0% of his attempts from beyond the arc—a proficiency that places him among the elite long-range shooters of his era.
Reflecting on that journey, agent Mark Bartelstein highlighted the trajectory on social media:
Mark Bartelstein via ClutchPoints
Over the last 12 years in the NBA, Doug has been one of the league's most elite shooters, and he has been beloved and respected by each and every one of his teammates and coaches. It has all added up to such a special career.
The sudden surge of public attention surrounding McDermott reflects the appreciation fans and analysts hold for players who successfully reinvent themselves to maintain a decade-plus career. While search trends and online discussions spiked immediately following the agency statement, public interest maps directly to nostalgia for his prolific scoring days and his steady presence as a locker-room veteran.
A Journey Across Seven NBA Franchises
McDermott's professional journey began on draft night in 2014, when the Denver Nuggets selected him No. 11 overall before swiftly trading his draft rights to the Chicago Bulls. In Chicago, he flashed the offensive instincts that made him a household name in college, hitting nearly 40 percent of his deep looks during his initial stint with the franchise.
As his career evolved, McDermott became a quintessential plug-and-play veteran bench piece. Rather than anchoring a single franchise for a decade, his career path required him to adapt to shifting tactical systems across a total of seven different organizations. He offered instant offense, constant motion off screens, and dependable perimeter shooting wherever he landed. His career path encompasses stops with:
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- New York Knicks
- Dallas Mavericks
- Indiana Pacers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Sacramento Kings
McDermott's final professional chapter unfolded during the 2025–26 season with the Sacramento Kings, where he appeared in 29 games off the bench and contributed 5.7 points per contest before concluding his time in the league (Omaha World-Herald). Whether providing crucial spacing during playoff runs with the Indiana Pacers or mentoring younger rotations in San Antonio and Sacramento, McDermott maximized his physical tools through elite shooting mechanics and unyielding work ethic.
From Overlooked Prospect to Creighton Royalty
Before establishing himself as a reliable professional, McDermott authored one of the most prolific collegiate careers in modern NCAA history. Initially committed to Northern Iowa, he followed his father, Greg McDermott, to Creighton, where he single-handedly transformed the Bluejays into a national focal point.
McDermott earned consensus first-team All-American honors in three consecutive seasons, a rare feat matched by very few players in modern college basketball history. Earning consensus National Player of the Year as a senior after leading the nation with 26.7 points per game, he swept individual honors including the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and Oscar Robertson Trophy. Creighton permanently cemented his status in December 2023 by retiring his iconic No. 3 jersey in front of packed rafters.
Ultimately, McDermott's retirement marks a transition away from the hardwood for a player who carved out a lasting legacy through sheer shooting accuracy and persistent adaptation. Whether he was lighting up scoreboards in Omaha or sinking corner triples in NBA arenas, McDermott leaves the game respected as one of the purest shooters of his generation.