By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Two-time EuroLeague “Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy” winner Keith Langford won’t look to return to Panathinaikos next season due to a lack of satisfactory playing time and role with the Greek team.
Langford won the Greek League and Cup titles with Panathinaikos but didn’t feel like “being himself” through the season. The 35-year-old American guard played 19:51 minutes (10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds) in EuroLeague (plus 19.03 minutes in Greek League) a number which was quite the contrast in comparison with the 30+ minutes he averaged in previous seasons in the competition.
Here’s what Langford said on his free agency goals per Talkbasket.net:
Q: What are your plans?
A: My plans are to go somewhere where I will be able to be myself again. That’s my plan. I thank Panathinaikos for this season, it was fun, but I have to go back to being me. That’s all I want to do.
Q: What do you mean by that?
A: Just my role and everything … It was fun and I’m happy about everything in the season, but I want to finish my career on my own terms. I wish I had more opportunities and playing time. That’s the main factor. Historically, I’ve been playing for fourteen years and in my previous thirteen years I’ve never been a player of 11, 14 or 15 minutes, things like that. For me, the opportunity and the freedom to be who I am as a player is the most important.
Q: Was it a matter of coach?
A: I don’t know. I just think that my role was never consistent. Some games maybe yes, some games maybe no. I would rather be how I’ve been for the majority of my career. Like I said, the experience was great. I’m glad I came here to see how it is, but it’s probably not the role for me.