National Basketball Association

Report: Celtics' Wallace calling it quits

Published Jun. 24, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

While all eyes are on the Celtics' Big Three, the Boston breakup apparently will begin with Rasheed Wallace.

The 35-year-old forward will retire, ESPN reported on Thursday, walking away from the final two years and $13 million on his contract.

Wallace, 35, scored 15,860 points and grabbed 7,321 rebounds with Boston, Detroit, Portland, Atlanta and Washington, though he was best known for his temper tantrums with officials and the technical fouls he received.

Wallace, an NBA champion with Detroit in 2004, joined the Celtics last season for another title run, only to see it fall short in a Game 7 loss to the Lakers. He had indicated to the Celtics that he was feeling too worn down to continue playing after this season.

"I don't think he's going to change his mind," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told ESPN on Thursday. "Three days before the last game, he told me this might be his last game. Then, the night before, he told me he was going to give me everything he's got because he felt like it was going to be all over. He went out great. He gave everything he's got. For him to go out that way was great."