Nuggets legend Will Barton announces retirement from NBA

Will “The Thrill” Barton officially announced his retirement from professional basketball on Wednesday night during an appearance on the NoKutKards Podcast. The announcement closes the book on a 13-year professional career that included 11 seasons in the NBA — eight of which were spent in the Mile High City, where he helped transform the Nuggets from league afterthought to perennial contender.

Will Barton’s Retirement Announcement

In a heartfelt Instagram post announcing his retirement, the Baltimore native Barton reflected on his journey:

"13 years pro. 11 years in the NBA. Man where did the time go? Crazy when I was young I never seen the end in my vision. But here we are. Man what a time I promise it was everything I dreamed of plus way more."

Will Barton

The post continues with Barton expressing gratitude to God, his supporters, and the game of basketball itself — the kind of genuine, unfiltered emotion that made him a locker room favorite throughout his career.

From Second-Round Pick to Nuggets Legend

Getting drafted 40th overall in 2012 meant Barton had to scratch and claw for every minute of NBA playing time. After a quiet start in Portland, the 6'5" wing found his home in Denver following a 2015 trade that, in retrospect, ranks among the Nuggets’ smartest moves of the decade.

Barton’s first full season in Denver coincided with the rookie season of some Serbian dude named Nikola Jokic — perhaps you’ve heard of him? In fact, the first assist of Jokic’s career went to Barton, who splashed a corner three against Minnesota.

Early on in their tenure together, Barton apparently dubbed himself and Jokic the Nuggets’ version of “Shaq and Kobe” when they came off the bench together. A 2021 article in The Athletic noted that while Joker took time to “recognize his inner Shaq-ness,” Barton never lacked Mamba-like confidence in his abilities.

That self-belief translated to 479 games in a Nuggets uniform — the 10th most in franchise history. Not bad for a guy many draft experts considered a fringe NBA talent despite being named Conference USA Player of the Year as a sophomore at Memphis.

During his eight seasons in the Mile High City (2014-15 to 2021-22), Barton averaged a solid 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. His best statistical season came during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign, when he put up 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest. When Thrill was traded to Washington, he was the Nuggets' all-time leading three-point shooter, with 804 made attempts. He’s now fourth on that list, behind Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Jokic.

But statistics only tell part of Barton’s story. What the numbers don’t capture is how he kept the Nuggets afloat during the injury-plagued 2021-22 season when both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were sidelined. His playmaking and ball-handling provided a crucial release valve for an offense that otherwise would have completely collapsed around Jokic.

If one thing defined Barton's tenure in Denver, it was the peculiar dichotomy between how his teammates viewed him versus how fans often perceived his game. In the locker room, Barton was seemingly universally beloved — a mentor figure who bought into the team concept and helped younger players develop.

But certain sections of Nuggets fandom developed an almost pathological fixation on his occasional wild forays to the basket or ill-advised heat-check threes. The reality? Barton’s aggressive style sometimes led to head-scratching moments, but it also produced myriad game-changing plays for the Nuggets.

Remember this game-saving block against ex-teammate Malik Beasley in 2021? 


Basketball Life After Denver

For his entire NBA career, Barton averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting a respectable 43.0% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc across 679 games.

After his time with the Nuggets concluded, Barton had brief stints with the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors before taking his talents overseas. His basketball journey concluded with stops in Spain, China and finally Puerto Rico, where he suited up for Atleticos de San German.

Will the Thrill’s Lasting Legacy

Will Barton’s NBA career may not end with a Hall of Fame induction or a jersey retirement ceremony, but his impact on the Denver Nuggets franchise cannot be overstated. He arrived when the team was rebuilding, contributed to its ascension to contender status, and helped establish the culture that eventually led to the 2023 NBA Championship — even if he wasn't there for the final triumph.

As Barton himself put it in his retirement announcement: “I pray I gave others hope & inspired some. Ups & downs it was all worth it & this game gave me purpose.”

For Nuggets fans who appreciated his contributions, the only appropriate response is the final sentence in his IG update: “Thrill, you did that shorty, no doubt.”

Now, treat yourself to this highlight package that reminds us all why we called him “The Thrill.”