After 17 seasons, Hunter not shedding any tears

Lindsey Hunter certainly eased into retirement. He hadn't played since Jan. 11 and was inactive after the Bulls added four players in Feb. 18 trades.

His 17-year NBA career most likely ended Wednesday when he was released to make room on the roster for Chris Richard. But Hunter didn't shed any tears when he stepped in front of the interview backdrop at the Berto Center. At 39, he was the NBA's oldest active player.

"Never in a million years would I have thought that I would play as long as I have," Hunter said. "It's truly a blessing for me. Every situation I've been in has been great. Basketball has truly blessed me in that aspect."

Hunter's pro career began with Detroit in 1993 when he was the No. 10 draft pick out of Jackson State. He spent 12 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Pistons and saw his final game action against Detroit on Jan. 11 at the United Center.

He was brought in by the Bulls last season to serve as a mentor to Derrick Rose. They liked him so much, they re-signed Hunter for this season.

Hunter will stay with the team in an undetermined capacity. He's a candidate to join the coaching staff in the future, but that will be determined during the summer, and Hunter likely will get offers from other teams.

"I do enjoy working with guys, teaching, sharing the knowledge I have," he said. "So we'll see."

Richard returns: Since being released Feb. 18 by the Bulls, power forward Chris Richard played three games with Tulsa in the D-League, spending last weekend in Reno, Nev.

"It was a little bit tough for me to go back down there, but I went and continued to play hard," he said after practice.

Richard should be ready to step in and help right away, because he spent preseason with the Bulls and played in five games last month while on a couple of 10-day contracts.

"I play every game the same," he said. "I don't put a whole lot of pressure on myself. I like to win. I'm a competitor. So I feel like if I'm here one day, 10 days or five years, I'm going to play just as hard because I like to win, and to me losing is unacceptable."

Last baskets: Here's an uncanny coincidence for the obscure Bulls' trivia file: On consecutive baskets in the fourth quarter of the Jan. 11 win over Detroit at the United Center, center Aaron Gray scored his last points with the Bulls, then Lindsey Hunter tallied the final basket of his 17-year NBA career.

Gray finished a layup with 6:26 remaining, then Hunter nailed a jumper off an assist by Jannero Pargo, which made the score 115-80 with 5:09 left. Gray was traded to New Orleans on Jan. 25.

Asked if it's disappointing to play his last game without knowing it was his last game, Hunter said no.

"Look, I'm not a big dramatic type of guy," he said. "I have fun in life, I have fun on the court, I have fun off the court. When it's time to be serious, I'm serious. But I don't make monumental moments like that.

"I remember my first basket, preseason game, Houston Rockets. Don't remember my last one."