Okay, some people are hating on me. So here is my exact take on the Sprewell situation, and why. I've been bashing Spree, but I loved the guy. I liked him better than Jordan, and honestly felt he would take the torch, after M.J. retires. So I was happy when they gave him a fat contract, and when I say fat I mean Phat. 32 million over four years. That was franchise player money, for a low income team like the Warriors are. They had no chance of signing anyone else after that for the next three or four years, but that was okay with me.
Now you want to tell me that if someone was paying you eight million a year, you would risk that in any way. You are the focus of a spotlight of an NBA team, the one that's filling up the seats. Shit you play in the NBA, and get payed a lot for doing something you love. Fine be unhappy, but I think he snapped because he was holding out the press, maybe he should have just told someone instead of holding in. I think that the Warriors did the right thing to suspend him, but maybe the NBA took it too far by suspending him for a year. I think the Warriors should have taken it to the team, asked there opinion, that was there teammate. But there is that side that says, if I choked my boss, I would have been gone that day. And if there is any boss is not thinking that way you tell me. If I choked out a teacher, you think they would still want me in class.
The Warriors had to make a decision on player or coach, again. Did they make the right decision this time, again, probably not. People hat the fact that Webber is on the Wizards, and now Nellie's gone, so what do we have to show for it, Donyell Marshall. So the decision was on them again, and again they chose the coach, who will probably be gone by next year when Spree gets reinstated into the NBA. So did they make the right decision? Well PJ did nothing but coach, my track coach yelled at me all the time, and he was the person I respect the most in the world, he made me the Athlete I am today, some people take it one way, some the other, Spree took it personal, and when you're on a team and there is someone in charge that only wants you as a team to excel you can't take anything personal.
I respect the Warriors decision, if they traded him to contender they would have just put a message out that if you want to play for a good team just choke out the coach, and if there's still doubts in your mind that you'll be on the team, go back twenty minutes later and try to knock him out.
But Spree's approch to the game this year has been unfun to watch, I know that when he's gone, a contender will pick him up, because he's a talent, that is not just a head above the rest. He was a lousy Warrior, but he's still one of the most talented player in the NBA. He's going to be a great Spur, or whatever team takes him, not takes a risk on him takes him. Nellie loved coaching him, I think it was just a conflict in styles. He's still taking the torch next year when he comes back. But the Warriors made the right decision, the NBA made the decision too fast to say whether or not it was correct, they should have sat on it for a while.
I personally think the Warriors, were looking after themselves, it might be to make some of the cap room they didn't have, or just because he was pulling them down.