By John Rammas / info@eurohoops.net
Tony Parker (Spurs 2001-18) to the Hornets, DeAndre Jordan (Clippers 2008-18) to the Mavericks, DeMar DeRozan (Raptors 2009-18) to the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard (Spurs 2011-18) to the Raptors, and Manu Ginobili (Spurs 2002-18) and Nick Collison (Thunder 2003-18) have retired. Eurohoops presents the NBA’s Top 5 Last of the Romantics.
“It’s a dirty game.” This is how Damian Lillard responded to the news of the unexpected trade of DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs – for Kawhi Leonard – after nine years, his whole career, with the Raptors. For others, though, the game was, is and will remain romantic.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
PG | 1.91 | November 12, 1988
Thunder 2008-today
“With the 4th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Seattle SuperSonics select Russell Westbrook from UCLA.” The calendar said “June 26, 2008.” A few days later, just 6 to be exact, not only the SuperSonics were not in Seattle any more, they no longer existed. The calendar says “2018” and the 30-year-old point guard is still a resident of Oklahoma City, which was the reason for the maximum extension of $205.030.000 in 2017, the most expensive contract in history.
Now, the goal is clear: He wants to succeed with the Thunder, and he wants to succeed on a personal level as well. Neither of his historic back-to-back triple-double seasons – nor his 2017 MVP award – took the team any further than the first round, so, what’s in store for them in their 11th season together?
MARC GASOL
C | 2.16 | January 29, 1985
Grizzlies 2008-today
He has won everything at an international level, and even at a club level in his years in Barcelona. In general, outside of the NBA, the 33-year-old Spanish center has more than enough distinctions. In 10 seasons with the Grizzlies, though, he has been limited to one appearance in the Western Conference Finals (lost in 4-0 to the Spurs in 2013), which is disproportionate to his personal distinctions (Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, All-NBA First Team in 2014, All-Star in 2012, 2015 and 2017).
It could have been a different story if the Lakers hadn’t traded his draft rights (#48 in 2007), but the same could be said about his brother, Pau – two-time NBA champion (2009, 2010) – in what is an historic and genuine family affair.