When to leave the Game ??

I recently read an article that stated Baron Davis will be returning to sports. Baron Davis is very excited to sign a contract to join the NBA Development league. I found this to be very interesting given Davis being 36 years old and having a successful NBA career. The amount the D league pay is an insult when compared to the NBA.

 Davis joined the NBA in 1999 as a 3rd round pick. During his time in the NBA he had been considered an All Star making the NBA All Star team twice. Davis played in the NBA for 13 years which I would consider a solid NBA career considering the average length of a NBA career is under 5 years. Davis made $147 million during his NBA career and will make between $13,000-$25,000 per season with the D-league. What would make a 13-year, 2 time NBA All Star vet sign up to make $25,000 or under in a lower lever league?

                Many times athletes have a hard time giving up basketball and stepping away from the sport. It's a hard adjustment for the majority of athletes to step away from the game. Athletes begin prepping for a career in sports from a young age and sometimes the game is all they really know. Athletes become accustom to games daily, exercising daily, having so much attention and always being in the spotlight. When the athlete career comes to an end due to injury or age it can be very hard for athletes to cope with. 

Many athletes stay connected to the sport in some form by coaching, mentoring or by working for a team in recruitment or basketball operations. Although most athletes will stay in the sport in some form it's still really hard for most to step away from the actual title of basketball player.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/baron-davis-to-sign-d-league-contract-001850710.html