By james art Alan Durham retired from professional basketball at the age of 36 after his last appearance on the court with Meralco in Okinawa.
The Meralco organization held a heartfelt send-off for Durham on Tuesday night at the Meralco Complex in Pasig City, celebrating his contributions to the franchise.
The Bolts head coach paid tribute to his long-time import by saying: “I went through so many wars with Alan Durham. He is a brother, a warrior and a true professional. He will always be a part of our Bolts family.”
Durham’s bye comes on the heels of the Bolts’ recent campaign, which ended in the quarterfinals of the Governors Cup with a tough series against arch-rivals Justin Brownlee and Ginebra.
(C) Mags Reyes/EASL
Durham led the Bolts to three Governors Cup finals at his peak, cementing his legacy as one of the league’s most important import players.
Durham’s PBA career began in 2014 with the Barako Bull.
Although the pandemic interrupted his plans to return with the Bolts in 2020, Durham found success with B.League team Ryukyu, where he won a championship and won Finals MVP honors in the 2022-23 season.
Before retiring, Durham made sure to have one last game with the Bolts.
After the Governors Cup, Durham took the floor for the final time in the EASL, bowing to the Golden Kings at Okinawa Arena.
The homecoming match turned out to be Durham’s last action on the court, prompting him to announce his retirement shortly thereafter.