BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Former Canisius basketball star Billy Baron has retired after collecting several championships and accolades playing 10 professional seasons overseas.
The 33-year-old Baron was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania but spent much of his childhood living in Olean where his father Jim Baron coached St. Bonaventure from 1992-2001.
"From my driveway in Olean, NY, to Shanghai and all 35 countries in between, it’s been a hell of a ride,” Baron wrote in announcing his retirement Saturday on social media.
Baron returned to Western New York in 2012 when his father became the Canisius coach. He scored more than 1,400 points in two seasons with the Golden Griffins after transferring from Rhode Island, and Baron was selected as Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the year in 2014.
"One of the greatest to ever wear a Canisius uniform," the Griffs posted on X. "Congratulations on a great career."
Becoming one of the top 3-point shooters in the Euroleague, Baron started his pro career with Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania and later won Finals MVP for championship teams in the Serbian League and ABA League in the former Yugoslavia region. Baron also was a champion and all-star in the Russian VTB United League, and he finished his career winning consecutive Lega Basket Serie A championships with Italian club Olimpio Milano.
Baron won a gold medal playing for the U.S. national team the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.
Averaging 10.5 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 121 career EuroLeague games, Baron was limited last season after having elbow surgery. His retirement comes after Baron signed with the Shanghai Sharks in China.
“Unfortunately, this past year I dealt with the ugly side of the game," Baron wrote. "It’s been an experience that I don’t wish upon anyone. After HHS in NYC was able to clean up the mess I was left in, I battled to come back better than before. Inside I felt like I had several good years left in me, but I quickly found out that wouldn’t be the case.
“It’s not the way I imagined things ending. But as I sit here writing this, I’m frustrated with the scars I’ve been left with, but I’m extremely grateful to have made it this far."
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.