Puka Nacua knows what he wants to do when he retires: Play basketball overseas

USA Today

09-04-2025

Puka Nacua knows what he wants to do when he retires: Play basketball overseas
Puka Nacua probably didn't expect to have his name connected to the word 'retirement' so often this season but that's what happens when you talk about retiring at the age of 30. Nacua surprised everyone when he made those comments to suggest he'll only play another seven or eight seasons, and not everyone was a fan of him saying it publicly.
Julian Edelman had to ask Nacua about it on his show 'Games With Names', wondering why Nacua would reveal his retirement plans when it could hurt his negotiating leverage down the road.
'One player to another. This is between you and I. No one's listening to this,' Edelman said. 'Don't ever tell the other side any edge. We're talking negotiations. I'll get you a couple more shekels. If it's there, it's there. You don't say it.'
Nacua responded by saying he doesn't think about retirement much and he was just answering a question that was asked of him, but it's obvious he's got a plan for his post-playing days.
He told Edelman that he wants to buy a basketball team overseas, be the coach and also play, putting up 25 shots a game. So yeah, he's got big aspirations for when he's done scoring touchdowns.
'I don't really think about it,' Nacua said. 'They asked the question but I want to go play overseas basketball. I want to play football, take that money – LaMelo Ball went to Lithuania. Like, I'm sure I could go to another country that only 25% of the world's ever heard before, get ownership in the team and go do the Michael Jordan route. I'm gonna get 25 shots up a night,' Nacua said. 'I'm gonna be the coach, I'm gonna sub my own minutes in, and then I'm gonna make sure that we're getting ticket sales at the end of it. Try to work some actual business. Do it the right way.'
Nacua said hopefully after he wins a Super Bowl, he'll get that extension with the Rams that will keep him in Los Angeles for good.
'After we win that Super Bowl, hopefully it'll be a done deal,' he said. 'There's no question about it. Like, they want me to stay here and hopefully make L.A. my home and we'll take over.'
Nacua isn't lacking confidence on the football field or the hardwood, often saying he could make it in the NBA if given the time to do so. That's debatable, but he can absolutely hoop. He played in the NBA All-Star Game two years ago and looked good, so he probably could make a living playing basketball overseas.
Until then, he'll stick to catching passes from Matthew Stafford.