Shane Battier reportedly set to retire, become CBB expert

Jason McIntyre of the Big Lead broke some pretty interesting Shane Battier related news yesterday. According to him, the former Duke Blue Devils super-duper-star and current NBA veteran is going to retire from the NBA and eventually become a college basketball expert for ESPN.

Battier’s exploits are pretty well-known. Between being a two-time NBA champion, a CBB national champion and All-American, Shane Battier is widely thought to be one of the more smart and insightful basketball minds walking the planet today. As for other planets, no one has been able to argue against the idea that he would be the best basketball mind on Planet UFDS-342-R — so, there’s that too.

A neat little ESPN college basketball analysts factoid: The mothership already employs a slew of former Duke players. Jay Bilas, Jay Williams and others have taken to ESPN for their post basketball playing careers. All of whom have added great aspects to their college basketball coverage.

There is absolutely no reason to think that Shane Battier will be anything but terrific in that role, too.

Nothing will be officially official as far as a gig with ESPN goes until Battier’s playoff run with the Miami Heat ends.

Oddly enough, the Battier to retire/become expert news has made me think a lot about of his playing days at Duke. He will be missed on the court, but that wrinkly cranium of his will be a welcomed addition to my picture-box.