Sasha Kaun retires after winning title with Cavs in only NBA season

Sasha Kaun's rookie season in the NBA will also be his last.

The 31-year-old Russian big man has decided to retire as a professional basketball player a little over a month after earning himself a championship ring with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have. I had a great experience for the (Russian) national team and professionally. Overall, it’s been phenomenal,” Kaun said in a phone conversation with Gary Bedore of Colorado's Journal-World on Saturday.

Kaun spent four years playing college hoops for the Kansas Jayhawks, and is just the second player in the history of the collegiate (Clyde Lovellette being the first) to win an NBA title, NCAA title (2008), and Olympic medal (bronze in 2012 with Russia).

"I want to say thank you to all the fans who have cheered for me in the years I was at KU and followed my career afterward as a professional. I’m happy to be a Jayhawk and look forward to seeing everybody once I’m back at the games (as fan). I’m just excited to be part of the (KU) family."

Kaun attributed his problematic right ankle as playing a large part in his decision to walk away from the game. "With the amount of pain I was going through, I just wanted to be done. It’s something I’ve had all my career," he said. "It was definitely getting worse and worse, year by year. Especially coming here (after seven seasons in Moscow) ... the intensity of the game I just kind of realized I don’t think I can go and do it any more."

"You know what? I’m not going to be happy playing. I’m not going to be happy not playing. I think it’s a good time to call it quits."

His role with Cleveland was extremely limited, coming off the end of the bench to average just 0.9 points and a single rebound in only 25 appearances during the regular season. Kaun was the only player on the roster to not see the floor during the playoffs.

The five-time Russian League champion was traded from Cleveland, along with cash considerations, to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum on July 15. He was released by Philadelphia two days later.