By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Usually the Euroleague MVP stays in his team, earns more money or signs a contract with a richer European or an NBA team. Tyrese Rice did something different and unique in Euroleague’s history. The American guard who shined in Milan and led Maccabi to the title decided to continue his career in Moscow signing a new 3-year contract with Khimki. He’ ll earn a lot of money but he’ll play in the Eurocup because Khimki is not even among the eight teams who will fight for the 24th spot in Euroleague’s regular season..
It’s the first time that a Euroleague MVP signs a contract with a Eurocup team not only immediately after his triumph but generally in his whole career after his big success. After 2001, all the Euroleague MVPs have stayed in their team (Vassilis Spanoulis three times, Diamantidis twice, Navarro, Langdon, Papaloukas, Parker, Bodiroga and Ginobili), moved to another European powerhouse (Bodiroga in 2002 agreed with Barcelona after Panathinaikos) or signed overseas trying to make it in the NBA (Jasikevicius). All of them didn’t play in Eurocup even in their last professional years!
The last one who signed in a Eurocup team (BUT three years after his Euroleague MVP award) was Arriel McDonald who celebrated the title (Suproleague) with Maccabi in 2001 and in 2004 signed with Dynamo Moscow. Of course, after the institution of the MVP award in 1988. never the winner of the title was “relegated” the same year in Eurocup.