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Coming out of Wake Forest, Jeff Teague entered the league in the 2009 NBA Draft as the 19th overall pick selected by the Atlanta Hawks.
Throughout his career, Jeff was a solid, reliable point guard who could score on all three levels and impact the game with his playmaking. His years with the Hawks were the most memorable, especially in 2015, when he became an All-Star and helped lead them to a franchise-best 60-22 record.
Following his stint with the Hawks, Teague suited up for the Indiana Pacers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he ultimately won a ring in 2021, before he decided to retire.
After a long 12-year career, Jeff knew the only right thing to do next was to celebrate his accomplishments, but he would ultimately pay the price.
Teague didn't have fun during his retirement party
To show appreciation and gratitude for his career, Teague took all of his lifelong friends on a trip to Miami as a part of his retirement gift, but would realize that probably wasn't Jeff's best decision based on his current status.
"When I retired I took all my friends and we went to Miami," said Teague. "I think I ran through about $70,000. It was my retirement gift to myself, but next week when I got home I was like, they had fun, not me. And I was married."
"We going to the club, they having the time of their life. It's cool to see my ni—as have a good time though. I'll be like laughing. But when the check would come, it'll be a lot of girls around. I'll pick somebody before we got to the club. Like the sign come out and they say their name, whatever. I make sure it was cash too, so they run through it."
Although he was glad his friends had the time of their lives, Miami's viceful nature is famous for ruining various professional careers, let alone relationships, which Teague didn't want to participate in and get himself in trouble.
Teague successfully transitioned into media
A few years after retiring, Teague joined his hometown friends as a part of a podcast called "Club 520," where the group discusses basketball and topics from everyday life, including pop culture, music and sneakers.
What started as a post-career hobby quickly turned into a renewed life path because, thanks to its engaging format, the podcast grew to become one of the most popular and beloved shows in the basketball space due to the group's unfiltered takes, Teague's untold stories and entertaining atmosphere.
The podcast grew so rapidly that it changed history, becoming the first podcast ever to form an exclusive footwear and apparel partnership, forming a sponsorship with Adidas.
Aside from the media, Jeff wanted to give back to his high school alma mater in Indiana, Pike High School, by taking over the program as head coach in 2023 and helping lead the new generation of Indiana's young talent to the highest stage in basketball.
Compared to how the post-career paths of other NBA players turn out, Teague is doing just fine and enjoying retirement.
