北京时间7点左右，麦蒂在脸书网上正式发布了退出NBA加盟中国青岛的声明，这份声明在短短的10分钟内，“赞”的数量就突破了一百万人次，声明中麦蒂提到了很多人，包括科比和姚明，以下是全文：

There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and against the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.
在人的一生中，新的道路总会时不时地向你展现，这次似乎是轮到我来迈出这一步。我为我在NBA奋斗15年所取得的成绩感到骄傲。在我18岁的时候，我怀揣着梦想进入这个联盟，我努力奋斗并为比赛倾注心血和灵魂。我把我自己当做一个学生，因为我观看、学习过无数比赛，并且我和这个世界上最优秀的球员合作或者对抗过。所以联盟就是我的大学，我在这里学到很多，对此我十分感激。我经历过一个球员能够经历的最美好的时刻，同时也有一些失落的时刻，但它们共同成就了今天的我。

As I leave the league for now, there have been so many profound people who inspired me along my way. I have to say thank you for guiding me and having an enormous influence on the way I played basketball. Isaiah Thomas, Rich Devos, Leslie Alexander and John Gabriel, you believed in me and I thank you. Jeff Van Gundy, you exemplified the brilliance of what a great coach is. Steven A. Smith, you gave us players a voice and for that I thank you. Doug Christy, Charles Oakley, Dee Brown, Mugsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Dell Curry, Kevin Willis, you all showed a young kid from Auburndale Florida how to be a better player. Kobe, you made me work harder and it was an honor to play against you. And Yao, we shared an experience together that will always be with me, thank you. Sonny & Pam Vaccarro showed me how there is loyalty and genuine friendship in this business. Arn Tellem and Tim Hoy, 15 years and you are still my agents. Thank you for guiding me throughout my career. When all is said and done, there is so many that made an impact on my life. I am one blessed man to have the love and never ending support of my wife CleRenda and the best 4 kids a man can ask for. But most important, I give glory and thanks to God. It is thru Him that I have been so blessed and I am forever thankful.
在我暂时作别联盟之际，回首往事，在我过去的篮球之路上，有太多人深刻的影响过，启发过，鼓舞过我。对他们，我要说深深的道一声感谢。伊塞亚·托马斯，里奇·德沃斯，莱斯利·亚历山大，约翰·盖博，谢谢您们对我的信任；杰夫·范甘迪，你诠释了一个伟大教练的智慧；史蒂文·史密斯，感谢你的节目传递出球员的声音；道格拉斯·克里斯蒂，查里斯·奥克利，迪·布朗，马吉斯·博格斯，安东尼·戴维斯，戴尔·科里，凯文·威利斯，你们为我这个来自佛罗里达州的少年诠释了篮球的真谛 ；科比，你让我的职业生涯充满了挑战，我以成为你的对手为荣；姚明，和你并肩作战的日子，将成为我生命中的永恒，谢谢你。松尼和帕姆，你们为我展示了在职业体育商业圈中可贵的忠诚和真挚的友谊；阿泰勒姆和蒂姆，十五年来，你们一直作为我的经纪人，守护左右，感谢你们在我的职业之路上给我的指引；还有许多许多的人，你们给我的生命以深刻的影响。我感到多么的幸运，拥有深深爱着的我并且一路支持我的妻子，克莱伦达，以及四个可爱的孩子。有你们相伴，我复何求。最后，也是最重要的，我要将一切的荣耀归功于上帝。感谢你一直以来为我的祝福和保佑。

As I enter this next chapter, I am excited to play for Qingdao Eagles in China. I have been to China several times in the last few years and I love the people and the country. It will be an honor to play for them. Thank you to every fan that has followed me and believed in me. Injuries and all, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of the mark I left on this game and am grateful to have been a part this league. It was a dream to play in front of all of you, each night, in every stadium. Thank you.
而今我将要迈入下个篇章，去中国为青岛队打球，对此我感到很兴奋。在过去的几年里，我去过中国很多次，我十分喜欢这个国家和人民，能够为他们打球我感到十分荣幸。感谢所有一直支持我，信任我的球迷。无论伤病还是我身上所发生的一切，我都不曾改变。我为我在NBA球场上留下的烙印而感到骄傲，为我曾经能够成为其中的一员而感激。对我来说，在你们面前比赛的每一场比赛，每一个体育馆，每一个夜晚都是梦幻般的。谢谢你们！
Tmac
麦蒂