L.A. Kings veterans Kershaw and Kopitar call it a career on the same day, marking an end to iconic eras in the city
In a historic moment for Los Angeles sports, two of the city's most revered athletes, Anze Kopitar and Clayton Kershaw, announced their retirements on the same day in September 2025.
For over two decades, Kershaw and Kopitar defined a generation of LA fans with their unparalleled performances. Kershaw, the Dodgers' pitcher, was known for his intelligence and consistency on the mound, while Kopitar, the captain of the Kings, was a two-way enigma, excelling as both a scorer and a defender.
Kershaw, who spanned an 18-year career, is a three-time winner of the Cy Young Award and won the World Series in 2020. His career is also marked by more than 3,000 strikeouts. On the other hand, Kopitar served as the captain of the Kings for 10 years and holds the records for the most games played and assists in the Kings' franchise history. He also won two Selke Trophies during his career and is 29 points short of being the all-time leading scorer of the Kings.
The duo's careers, spanning over 20 years each, were parallel to each other. Kershaw will play his last regular season game before assisting the team in reaching its playoffs, while Kopitar ended his career after the 2023-24 season. The Selke Trophy, awarded to the league's best defensive forward, was won by Patrice Bergeron in 2023 and Aleksander Barkov in 2024, before Kopitar retired.
The simultaneous retirement of Kershaw and Kopitar was a notable event in Los Angeles sports history. Their retirements were a ripple effect of tributes across the world of sport, marking the end of an era for LA fans.
As the 2025-26 NHL season approaches, the Kings will say goodbye to their long-time captain, Anze Kopitar, as he hangs up his skates after a 20-year career with the team, marked by two Stanley Cups. Meanwhile, Kershaw's final regular season game will be a bittersweet moment for Dodgers fans, marking the end of an era for one of the smartest competitors in the game.
The legacy of Kershaw and Kopitar will live on in the hearts of LA fans, forever etched in the city's sports history.
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