[Chronic]Spanoulis says he won't return to Rockets

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I've modified the 2006 - 2007 Season part, please comment and modify

Spanoulis' NBA rookie season in 2006-07 season saw limited playing time in his rookie season with Houston averaging 8.7 minutes per game, scoring 2.7 points per game on 31.9% field goal shooting, in 31 games played off the bench. [6]

During Spanoulis' first NBA season there was a dispute between him and the team's head coach Jeff Van Gundy over playing time. Much of this stemmed from the team's General Manager Carroll Dawson having promised Spanoulis about 20 minutes of playing time each game off the bench, playing at both of the guard spots. There was an issue between the team's management, Spanoulis, and the coach as well over the contract that Spanoulis had signed. In order to sign with the Rockets and fulfill his dreams of playing in the NBA, Spanoulis took a considerably smaller contract than the one that was being offered to him by his Greek team Panathinaikos. He still had one year under his contract with Panathinaikos, but his buyout was small and could be paid by the Rockets. Panathinkaikos countered the Rockets contract offer of $5,832,000 US dollars (equivalent to 4,665,600 Euros at the time) over 3 years with an offer of 13,200,000 Euros over 5 years, a contract that at the time (July 18th, 2006) was worth the equivalent of $16,500,000.

This meant that Spanoulis essentially agreed to play for Houston at a price of $1,944,000 per season for 3 years, passing up on Panathinaikos' offer of $3,300,000 per season over 5 years, just for a chance of playing in the NBA. Since Spanoulis gave up a total of $10,668,000 in order to play for the Rockets and was promised playing time in return as one of the contract negotiations, it led to a falling out between Spanoulis and the team's coach Van Gundy, after Van Gundy benched Spanoulis, citing that rookie players are dangerous for coaches that are in contract years and that Spanoulis was too foul prone and lacking in outside shooting touch to be a good fit in Van Gundy's offensive system. Van Gundy was in fact in a contract year, as he had just an option year left on his coaching contract with Houston.

After the Rockets organisation hired Rick Adelman as the team's new head coach in the off-season, there was a great rave about Spanoulis will shine under the new coach's offense system. However due to "family reasons", Spanoulis decides that he will not remain in the NBA, nor play with any European basketball club but instead going back to his home country.[7]

 

I usually also ask my mom to call my boss when I do not feel like showing up for work. Works like a charm.

I cannot believe I was rooting for this guy. I really feel cheated as a fan. Well, hope the Rockets get a nice trade exception out of this as some people are mentioning.

 

I really hate when people suggest that someone making upwards of $2mil a year is a "slaves". Give me a break, suck it up, bring your family over here for a year, and honor your contract while sitting on the end of the bench in street clothes.

How can he try to make it out like we're trapping him when he's the one screwing us? Pretty dissappointing, but I think it would be a mistake to let him out of his contract scott free. If he's going back to Greece then he should not be allowed to play for anyone. Maybe his agent should have explained that to him before he signed the contract. I move for a ban on V-Span related topics he is no longer a Rocket.

 

VSPAN lacks the mental toughness and grit to be successful. He has talent, but when you look at the way he carries himself it all makes sense now.

Why does doesn't he have an outside shot? Why is he turnover prone?

Maybe because he doesn't have what it takes to get better anyway. He's not willing to put in the hard work. THey said his practices tapered off last season. And he's a quitter.

VSPAN realized what it would take to succeed in the NBA and professional basketball. And realized that he wasn't interested in working that hard.

He's rather be a great player amongst the mediocre then be mediocre amongst the greats.

I think that says it all.

 

Wow...

Can Van Gundy ruin any more lives? Totally drained this guys desire to be the McGrady of Greece.

Gundy is a mental terrorist.

 

I wouldn't come back just to satisfy any of you weenies...especially since you all have been so supportive since day one and culminating in this thread. Please...whine some more about what you think of Vspan's decision. I actually admire his decision. He decided that personal happiness and family is more important than a fat salary. I think a lot of you are speaking out of your asses and, if in a similar situation, would end up going back home in the same situation. You don't even know the extenuating circumstances. Family problems? A parent could be near death's door. Even if he is just homesick and not adjusting to life in America, then so be it. He shouldn't be left to feel he has no choice but to continue to play just because he is under contract. What you want him to do...end up committing suicide because he feel's he has no choice but to play and be totally miserable? Give me a break.

Oh...but he's a p***y. Umm...yea...okay.

 

well we agree on that.

 

Well said. It amazes me how many people want to force a guy to play for the Rockets who doesn't even want to be in the country. What on earth makes anyone think that he'd even be any good under those circumstances?

It's one thing if he wanted to play for another team - then for competitive reasons, you don't just release him. Make him sign a guarantee that he won't be in the NBA for x years (similar to what the Magic did with Billy Donovan) and let him go and be done with it.

 

This just isn't really that surprising. At least the V-Span posts can now be limited to the Random Trade Thread.

 

As long as we can retain his contract as a trade asset and we aren't hurt financially by this then he just turned out to be an "overpaid" 2nd rounder that didn't work out - nothing more.

Now it is up to MOrey to turn it into asset for a PF that will help.

 

+2

.

 

I agree completely. I have never been a VSPAN FAN because the guy has never shown that he could play at the NBA level. Oh sure he had a good game against Team USA, but so what? What has he shown here except that the is a turnover machine and can't drop the ball in the rim even if his life depended on it? And now all this whining about can't making the adjustment to USA? If Yao and the legion of other NBA players can do it, it really makes me wonder why this guy can't cut it.

 

You need references for this whole section in the middle. Otherwise they will take it off (someday when they get around to checking all obscure basketball players)

 

priceless

 

I hope you're being sarcastic, but I know you're not. I can't tell which is more irrational on this board: the JVG hate or the Spanoulis love.

 

what a wuss....if we release him, he can go sign with anybody or where there be a stipulation of us releasing him that he can't do that?...he said his mom has been calling his agent crying??!! WTF......
we don't need him but now I wish we would have gotten that 2nd round pick from dallas fo rhim

 

Not very neutral.

 

I understand VSpan’s point about missing home and all but you need to be a man and honor your commitments. You signed a contract and need to live by it. I find it absurd his agent has the nerve to use the word salve in his reports. What slave makes 1.8 million dollars a year? You are filthy Rich, spend some of that cash and fly your parents down once a month. I was looking forward to see him play in RA’s new offence but now he is dead to me. You hear that VSpan… you are dead to us!

 

1st. of all I didnt even finish reading your post.

2nd. Survival of the fittest rule applies to every aspect in life. i'm sure yao was homesick, but he fought through it and look at him now. there was a higher chance of yao being a bust than vspan being bust. I mean its YAO youre talking about dude lived with his parents all of his life.

3rd. If he's that mentally weak to commit suicide (which is way too extreme)
then he doesnt belong in competitive sports. He should be a baker or any job where he doesnt have to sacrifice anything.

4th. I agree, a slave making 1.8 million...thats an insult to the millions of real slaves who actually suffered here in early america.

GROW THE F*** UP! Spanoulis!!! Be a MAN!

There's people who have sacrificed more than him who have 1% of what he has.

 

Same here.