[Chron] Rashard Lewis wants to retire with Houston

ShutURBiG! · Jun 6, 2009

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6460598.html

LOS ANGELES — The bitterness was gone from Rashard Lewis’ voice, long-since surrendered to success. The words, however, came easily and often.

So much has happened since that night in New York, but he still returns there. No longer haunted by it, he uses it, summoning its lessons to drive him to work and believe and persevere.

He still says the words. He still brings up “the green room,” returning him to the draft night when he cried as every team, including his hometown Rockets three times, let him escape the first round and he began building a determination to succeed beyond all doubts. Playing in the NBA Finals in a town filled with green rooms, he said the words Wednesday, as the Orlando Magic began another series as the overlooked “other” team, and then again Friday as they tried to rebound from the 25-point Game 1 loss.

“I’ve been in the league for 11 years, and I’ve always been criticized ever since getting drafted in the second round being in that green room,” Lewis said. “I think if anything, it just keeps the fire burning, makes me go out there and prove to a lot of people that I do belong in the NBA.”

He did enough to earn a $117 million contract to sign with the Magic in 2007, but even that brought new waves of criticism. With a playing style more like a complementary than a star player, he struggled in that first preseason with the expectations that came with the contract.

“Coming to Orlando from Seattle, they didn’t know what type of player they were getting, and I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform at my best, and it was only preseason,” Lewis said. “I wanted to play hard and show the city what type of player they were getting.”

Instead of questioning and pressuring himself, he went back to proving himself. He has averaged 17.9 points on 44 percent shooting, then dramatically increased his production in both postseasons.

Used in many roles
His numbers, however, do not define his job. By moving to power forward, Lewis allowed Magic coach Stan Van Gundy to play Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu together, creating matchup problems that became especially obvious and vital as the Magic eliminated Cleveland. That, however, meant he did not have the sort of defined role most max-contract players assume while still carrying the expectations.

“It’s not so much that we go to him more,” Van Gundy said. “In a lot of ways, we go to him less. There’s nights he’s got a good post-up matchup, and we put him down there; other nights he’s got to get out on the perimeter; other nights where he has to play a lot of pick-and-rolls. I think that has made it difficult on him.

“He went through the questions at the beginning of the playoffs whether he was worth his contract. I think his play in the playoffs, especially in very big moments, has sort of taken care of that question for him.”
Lewis stoked and carried the fire from those questions through his career, from Elsik to the draft-night green room, from Seattle to Orlando. And then it was gone.

When he was at the All-Star Game in Phoenix this season, his 1-year old daughter Gianna was ill. She had an extreme fever for 29 consecutive days. Doctors were unable to determine the cause and Lewis was filled with frustration and fear.

“She started breaking out in rashes, had ligament problems, her hips were hurting,” Lewis said. “The doctors didn’t know what was going on and we were about to take here to Houston. They started doing blood work and bone scans, and they found the virus and gave us the proper medicine.
“Most definitely during the time she was sick, it was a difficult time for me. During the time, I didn’t really care about the game of basketball. I didn’t care if we won games, if we lost games. My main concern was my little girl because she was in and out of the hospital a lot. It was tough, but now that she’s healthy, I’m able to focus on the game a lot better.”

Knows his exit strategy
Lewis, who turns 29 in August, has five more years left on his contract. As he did all those years ago when he had an idea about how he wanted to enter the league, he has a plan for the way to go out. “After this contract, I’ll still be able to play, not as a main, go-to guy, but to help a team win championships, like a Robert Horry, one of those veteran guys who goes to a team and helps them advance to that next level,” Lewis said. “Every chance I get, I go home (to Houston). My mom lives there. My brothers and sisters live there. That’s where I’m going retire. I’m still like to play there. Maybe I will.”

Even then, he will not forget his first evening in the NBA. But it’s not lingering anger, but pride in how far he has come and a reminder of how he got there.
“I use it as motivation,” Lewis said. “It keeps me going. I think a lot of people forgot where I came from, how I got in the NBA. It wasn’t easy. I was one of those guys who was counted out and worked my way up to being one of the best players in the NBA.”
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t_mac1 · Jun 6, 2009

unfortunately, 5-6 years from now, he's not going to be the rashard lewis we know. he might be retired by then.

JBIIRockets · Jun 6, 2009

Rashard is a nice, way way way overpaid role player. I only want him if he'll shave some salary.

tofu-- · Jun 6, 2009

JBIIRockets said:

Rashard is a nice, way way way overpaid role player. I only want him if he'll shave some salary.
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Yep. If he'll take a pay cut I definitely would be glad to have him.

Noob Cake · Jun 6, 2009

1.5m/year at age 35. Play him like Brent Barry last year.

FLAGRANT1 · Jun 6, 2009

JBIIRockets said:

Rashard is a nice, way way way overpaid role player. I only want him if he'll shave some salary.
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oots

He is a two time All-Star, 10 year veteran who stretches the defense, shoots an above average three point percentage and scores and rebounds better than everyone on our team except Yao.

I'd say he is adequately compensated and by no means a role player. I'd trade Battier and Brooks for him without sweating.

WeMissDekeMan · Jun 6, 2009

Take a pay cut Shard. Then we will gladly take you on this team.

BrooksBall · Jun 6, 2009

FLAGRANT1 said:

oots

He is a two time All-Star, 10 year veteran who stretches the defense, shoots an above average three point percentage and scores and rebounds better than everyone on our team except Yao.
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Scola, Landry and Hayes are all better rebounders than Lewis.

Clutch · Jun 6, 2009

We should have drafted him, definitely... but the pain of not taking Rashard Lewis died the second he signed a $110+ million contract. I mean DIED. I feel nothing. He's a good player but nowhere near worth that. Orlando has him and then some.

GlenRice · Jun 6, 2009

FLAGRANT1 said:

oots

He is a two time All-Star, 10 year veteran who stretches the defense, shoots an above average three point percentage and scores and rebounds better than everyone on our team except Yao.

I'd say he is adequately compensated and by no means a role player. I'd trade Battier and Brooks for him without sweating.
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no way, for a guy his size he shoots too many threes and barley posts up.

MD_in_Training · Jun 6, 2009

FLAGRANT1 said:

oots

He is a two time All-Star, 10 year veteran who stretches the defense, shoots an above average three point percentage and scores and rebounds better than everyone on our team except Yao.

I'd say he is adequately compensated and by no means a role player. I'd trade Battier and Brooks for him without sweating.
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Adequated compensated? Would you seriously want him on the Rockets at $110 million for 6 years?
Would any team other than Orlando? Shoot, I'm sure even Orlando is regretting, or will regret his Allan Houston-esque contract, once the Lakers win the championship.

supermandan · Jun 6, 2009

rashard in a rockets uniform would be fitting. dont hate on the man cuz he got a fat contract. when he comes to houston....he will not being doing it for the money i can tell you guys that. elsikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk what!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carl Herrera · Jun 6, 2009

Maybe Morey will trade TMac for him.

He could be a "Some Stat Superstar". You know, like Battier, except with stats and even more value. .

But anyhow, thank you Turkcan.

DieHard Rocket · Jun 6, 2009

It's nice to know that he knows he's not going to be a star when he's 35 ... I'm sure by that time he'll have lower contract expectations too. Doesn't sound like he'll be one of these guys that expects to get paid the same when he's 35 as he was in his prime (ie Latrell Sprewell).

Provided that is the case and he still has some game left, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Asian Sensation · Jun 6, 2009

Clutch said:

We should have drafted him, definitely... but the pain of not taking Rashard Lewis died the second he signed a $110+ million contract. I mean DIED. I feel nothing. He's a good player but nowhere near worth that. Orlando has him and then some.
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The pain of not taking Rashard cause of this guy will live on.

TheRealist137 · Jun 6, 2009

Rashard is overpaid and he knows it, that's why at the end of his current contract he will concentrate on playing with the team he most likes instead of the team that gives him the most money.

across110thstreet · Jun 6, 2009

does he want to retire with Houston or does he just want to retire in Houston?

CriscoKidd · Jun 6, 2009

DieHard Rocket said:

It's nice to know that he knows he's not going to be a star when he's 35 ...
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Well he's not a star now, so it's not really a big leap to make ...

Like Clutch, I knew that Rashard would never play a minute in Houston once he signed that ridiculous contract and I'm fine with that.

RV6 · Jun 6, 2009

well i think the pay cut is implied when he talks about being a role guy.....unfortunately he doesn't have the skills of a robert horry which would allow him to age and still contribute in other ways...he's got the shot, but that's about it...at that age i rather have a jon barry type who's a shooter.

RV6 · Jun 6, 2009

Asian Sensation said:

The pain of not taking Rashard cause of this guy will live on.
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i think drew was more of a logical choice there, at least the position they were trying to fill, the killer and big WTF was Mirsad Turkcan.

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[Chron] Rashard Lewis wants to retire with Houston

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