Colicky Boy plans retirementVows to leave league if Bulls win titleWed, March 16, 2005
Colicky Boy's first, and perhaps, last All-Star appearanceThe day after tying his coach's NBA record for most assists in one game, Colicky Boy declared that he would retire at the end of the season if the Bulls won the NBA championship this year.
"I've given it a lot of thought," said Colicky Boy in a press conference before his team's game against New Jersey. "This team is in such great shape that there's really no need for me to continue. The Bulls will do just fine without me."
Having broken or tied most of the major team and individual NBA records, Colicky Boy used the oft-cited reason of wanting to spend more time with his family.
"I really don't have anything left to prove," said Colicky Boy. "And all the endorsement deals I have will keep me financially secure for life. All I have left to achieve is the ring. Once that's done, I'd like to leave the game on top, just like Lance Armstrong.
"Of course, if we don't win the championship, then I'll be back every year until we win. I definitely want to win the title. But we have a really good shot at winning it this year, so I think it's realistic that I'll retire after this season."
When Colicky Boy was asked if the prospect of winning the most NBA titles would persuade him to stay in the NBA, he didn't hesitate.
"No," he said. "I know this team is positioned to contend for the title every year for the next decade or more. Melanie has done a phenomenal job of getting this team in the right direction. And as competitive as I am, I don't find it necessary to have the most NBA titles. You are a champion whether you win it once or win it ten times. There are other things I'd like to do in my life besides get more and more rings."
Among Colicky Boy's individual accomplishments:
- Broke Wilt Chamberlain's scoring mark of 100 points in a game (101 on January 12, 2005).
- Broke the franchise record of most points by a Bull in a game (was Michael Jordan's 69 in an OT game on March 28, 1990).
- Broke Wilt Chamberlain's rookie scoring mark of 58 points in a game.
- Tied Scott Skiles' record for most assists in a game (30 on March 15, 2005).
- Broke Nate McMillan's rookie record for assists in a game (30 on March 15, 2005).
- Broke the record for most steals in a game of 11 (22 on November 24, 2004).
- Became only the third player to score at least 50 points in three consecutive games (did it in five consecutive games from (November 13-21, 2004).
- Set new record for most quadruple-doubles (currently 8).
- Recorded back-to-back quadruple-doubles on December 1-3, 2004.
- Broke Grant Hill's record of three consecutive triple-doubles with eight consecutive (November 27-December 10, 2004).
- With Tyson Chandler, became only the tenth duo to each score at least 40 points in the same game (December 8, 2004).
- With Chandler and Eddy Curry, became the first trio to each score at least 50 points in the same game (December 13, 2004).
- Became first player to convert four-point plays in consecutive games (December 26-28, 2004)
- With Curry, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, became first four-player set of teammates to each score at least 20 points in a game.
- Set a new record for most triple-doubles in one season (currently at 31).
- Is currently averaging a triple-double, which would tie him with Oscar Robertson as the only players to do that in a season.
- Is on pace to be only the third player (besides Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld) to be voted Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same year.
- Is on pace to break Wilt Chamberlain's record of highest average ppg by a rookie (37.6 in 1959-60) in one season (currently 46.8).
- Is on pace to break the record for highest average steals per game in a season (currently 3.67 by Alvin Robertson in 1985-86).
- Broke Kobe Bryant's record of hitting 12 three-pointers in one game (14 on February 8, 2005).
Colicky Boy added that he looked forward to seeing how the team does without him.
"I'll be rooting for them from my comfy chair in my living room," he said. "It's been fun but I'm sure some people are curious how the team would do without me."
LeBron James said he could find a way to make Colicky Boy stay.
"We'll just lose in the NBA Finals so he'll have to come back the next year to try to win it," joked James.
"Whenever he does leave, we'll miss him tremendously," said James seriously. "We've only played together a few months and it's been an awesome experience. But we've still got enough talent here to be just fine when he goes off into the sunset."