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.
MIKE CONLEY JR.
PG | 1.85 | October 11, 1987
Grizzlies 2007-today
Born in Arkansas, went to high school in Indiana, attended college in Ohio, then became a flagship in Memphis. The 31-year-old point guard has become a byword for the Grizzlies, who selected him in the 2007 draft with the 4th overall pick. His participation in the Western Conference Finals in 2013 (lost in 4-0 to the Spurs) is the most they have achieved in 11 seasons together, however no knockout or failure to qualify for the playoffs – like last season – has hurt more than rupturing his left Achilles tendon last season.
His last renewal in 2016 was, at that point in time, the most expensive contract in history ($152.605.576), but his current sixth position – ninth in annual earnings – is far from low.
UDONIS HASLEM
PF | 2.03 | June 9, 1980
Heat 2003-2018
Few know that his first professional team wasn’t the Heat, it wasn’t in the NBA, it wasn’t even in the USA (see Chalon-sur-Saone 2002-03). Fewer still know that he’s been playing in the Heat since 2003 and is ready – as a free agent – to return for his 16th season.
Retiring from active duty has obviously passed through the mind of the 38-year-old power forward, but, since the team is planning to offer him this choice, it’s going to be difficult to say no to another season in his place of origin, as he was born in Miami. In this way, he will automatically become the third oldest player in the NBA.