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Grizzled NBA veterans often need some sort of a push to let them know it’s time to hang up their sneakers. The appeal of being an NBA player can be too much that some would rather stay on the court than move on to the next stage of their lives.

That was the case for Steve Smith, who, at 34 years of age, was still playing for the New Orleans Hornets at the time when they visited the United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls during the 2003-2004 season. It was at that game that he matched up against a young, flashy guard named Jamal Crawford.

Threw it through his legs

Smith remembered the exact moment he decided to retire from the NBA. He was guarding Crawford, then a fourth-year guard who was quickly becoming an up-and-coming star in the NBA. Smith said he was trying to defend a pick and roll and was up on Crawford trying to prevent him from driving to the basket.

“I put my foot on the sidelines thinking he has nowhere to go but he threw it through my legs and laid it up,” shared Smith. “I looked at Bernie Bickerstaff, who was my coach and he said, ‘It’s time,’ and I agreed with it,” added Smith with a hearty laugh.

Three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner

As for Crawford, he went on to become a three-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award. After spending his first four years in the NBA with the Bulls, the Michigan product went on to play for eight other teams, bringing his trademark ballhandling wizardry and incredible shotmaking ability everywhere he went.