By Yiannis Bouranis/ info@eurohoops.net
Pops Mensah- Bonsu retires in order to join the NBA Players Association as a regional representative. According to the website mvp247.com, Great Britain’s center confirmed his retirement from basketball at the relatively youthful age of 32.
After a superb collegiate stay at George Washington University, he played for five NBA teams (Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets). His best NBA spell was in the 2008-9 season with the Toronto Raptors (for whom, he played twice in his NBA career) where he averaged 5.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 19 games.
In Europe, he played for CSKA Moscow (2010), Villerban (2011), Besiktas (2011-12), Sevilla (2013) Emporio Armani Milano (2013), Galatasaray (2013-14) and Hapoel Jerusalym (2014).
Mensah-Bonsu’s career ended after a two-year-ban handed out for a doing infraction incurred last season at AEK Athens for use of a medication proscribed for Attention Deficit Disorder.
The 32-year-old player leaves basketball as one of the UK’s top performers of all time and a key figure in the country’s effort to become a proud competitive force.