After suffering a heart-wrenching loss in the national championship game two Aprils ago, senior guard Matt Bradley found himself overwhelmed with emotion during a postgame interview, as he reflected on his transformative journey at Montezuma Mesa.
With tears streaming down his face, he recounted the struggles that led him to join the Aztecs. “When I entered the (transfer) portal and came here, you know, during that time with COVID and stuff, I was really ready to just stop playing,” Bradley shared, revealing the depth of his despair at that time. “I told myself, I was just like, ‘You know what, man? It’s been tough. Just go home and get a job and call it a day, you’ll be all right.’”
However, the impact of Coach Brian Dutcher’s mentorship proved to be life-altering for Bradley. “But Coach Dutch, he’s one of the most genuine guys I’ve ever met. The way he took me in and the brotherhood and real leadership that we could follow changed the trajectory of my life for sure. It’s more than just basketball,” he said, illustrating the profound sense of belonging he found on the team.
It was perhaps inevitable that these feelings would resurface after leaving SDSU, and they did just that. In a poignant social media post on Sunday night, Bradley announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 25, mere days before he was set to play in the NBA’s G League. This announcement came after a single season with the Rostock Seawolves in Germany’s top division, signaling a significant shift in his professional life.
“I announce this with a smile and a sense of peace I haven’t felt in years,” Bradley wrote, articulating the clarity he had found amidst his challenges. “I loved basketball all the way up to COVID-19. This pandemic took away basketball from me, and I was left feeling hopeless and lost. I was depressed and devastated that the biggest thing I loved could be taken away just like that.”
“At my lowest point is when I came to the realization that my worth shouldn’t be in something that could be wiped away in an instant. And at that moment, my love for the game completely changed, and since then my success as a player slowly began to decline.”
Bradley transferred to SDSU in 2021 from Cal with two years of eligibility remaining, quickly making his mark by averaging 16.9 and 12.6 points per game while leading the Aztecs to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the first Final Four in school history, a milestone that solidified his legacy in collegiate basketball.
Behind the scenes, Bradley faced a daily struggle, a reality that was often masked by his on-court successes. He nearly quit the sport multiple times, grappling with the pressures and uncertainties of his journey.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised by it,” remarked Miles Byrd, Bradley’s teammate at SDSU and the Swish Summer League. “He’s one of the greatest dudes I’ve ever met personally, on and off the court. He had such a competitive nature to him. We stay in contact. He had a great college career, and he’s going to have a great life after basketball.”
Coach Brian Dutcher also weighed in on Bradley’s decision, saying, “Sometimes these guys who chase pro careers play six, seven, eight, nine years and then they come back and they have to get a job. They’re nine years out of the workforce, trying to get their first job doing something else. Sometimes you play a little bit and you realize you want to get into the workforce, find something you want to do for the majority of your life, which is not playing basketball.”
Bradley averaged 7.4 points per game for Rostock after being signed and released by the Houston Rockets last month, a move intended to secure his rights for their G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
“I’m 25 and I’m ready for the next stage of my life,” Bradley declared in his post, “where I take all the energy that I put into basketball and pour it into my family, my relationships, my faith and my next career. … Btw, I will be the nastiest men’s league player in the country and I’m OK with that.”
Ex-Aztecs have big nights
SDSU transfers Lamont Butler and Micah Parrish both had productive debuts with their new teams in the opening of the college basketball season Monday night.
Butler started and played 22 minutes for Kentucky, finishing with 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting (0 of 2 from 3) to go with five rebounds, five assists and three steals as the No. 23-ranked Wildcats secured a convincing victory over Wright State, 103-62. Kentucky will host Bucknell on Saturday before facing No. 7 Duke in Atlanta on Nov. 12.
Parrish also had a strong start, scoring 17 points, along with six rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes as Ohio State triumphed over No. 19 Texas, 80-72, in a neutral-court game in Las Vegas. This performance matched his scoring high from the previous season’s opener with SDSU, just three points shy of his career-best single-game performance.
**Interview with Matt Bradley: Reflecting on His Journey and Retirement from Basketball**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Matt. After an incredible college career with the Aztecs and your recent announcement about retirement, we want to hear from you about this transformative journey. What prompted the decision to retire at this point in your life?
**Matt Bradley:** Thank you for having me. It’s definitely been an emotional process. Basketball has been such a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it’s not an easy decision. But as I grew through COVID and the challenges that came with it, I realized I had to prioritize my mental health and well-being. I wanted to retire on my terms, not because of an injury or loss of passion.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned in your post that there was a time when you felt hopeless and considered leaving the game altogether. Can you tell us more about that period and how you found your way back?
**Matt Bradley:** Absolutely. When I entered the transfer portal, I was at a low point. COVID took away not just basketball but also the connections I had in the sport. I thought about stepping away for good, but then I came to San Diego State and found a sense of purpose again through my coach, Brian Dutcher. The brotherhood on the team made all the difference. It was more than just basketball; it was about support and community.
**Interviewer:** Looking back on your time at SDSU, what do you consider your biggest achievement or the moment that meant the most to you?
**Matt Bradley:** Definitely leading the team to the Final Four. That was a dream come true, something I had worked for my entire life. It wasn’t just about the game; it was about creating memories with my teammates that I’ll cherish forever. I also recognized what I was able to accomplish personally, ranking in several categories in the program’s history.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like your time at SDSU had a profound impact. Now that you’ve stepped away from basketball, what’s next for you?
**Matt Bradley:** Right now, I’m looking forward to exploring new opportunities outside of basketball. I want to take a step back and focus on myself, whether that’s furthering my education or getting into coaching. I’ve learned so much through this journey, and I hope to share those lessons with others.
**Interviewer:** Your teammates and coach have spoken highly of your character both on and off the court. How do you plan to continue inspiring others in the community?
**Matt Bradley:** That means a lot to me. I hope I can inspire young athletes to remember that their worth isn’t just tied to their sport, but who they are as people. I want to advocate for mental health awareness in sports and help players navigate the ups and downs that come with being an athlete.
**Interviewer:** It’s clear you have a lot of insight to offer, Matt. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and we wish you the best in this new chapter of your life.
**Matt Bradley:** Thank you! I appreciate the support and I’m looking forward to what’s next.