<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Smush's Last Words no need to preface this interview. Enjoy: SMUSH: On what went wrong for him this year: ``Some days I lost motivation, it wasn't fun. The game wasn't fun anymore. I love to play basketball and at times I felt like I wasn't able to do so. On his time with the Lakers: `` The Lakers definitely gave me a great opportunity and I didn't want to let that opportunity slip through my fingertips. It was fun. It was a fun ride, starting for most of two seasons. They allowed me to show I could play at this level of basketball. ``I did what I could. There are somethings I could've done better, then there were things I had no control over. On his role the last two months: ``The last month or two, I felt honestly that the situation between me and Phil Jackson was blown out of proportion. I really didn't have a problem with Phil Jackson. Me and him spoke about that. I really didn't have a problem with him, but the media made it out to be that. Obviously, I guess it did take it's toll mentally on not only myself but on the team and on Phil Jackson. I knew when it was happening that it was taking its toll. Whether I wanted it to happen or not, a thing like that will bother anybody. That situation wasn't to blame for why we lost or why we were losing. It was just blown out of proportion. On his relationship to his teammates: ``I don't have any beefs with my teammates. Me and Phil talked about how I could've been more outgoing, but that's just not in my personality. I could've done some things to make my relationship with my teammates stronger, but like I said to Phil Jackson, I'm a loner, I like to be by myself, I'm very observant and I'm quiet, so I might be standoffish at times and at times, a trait like that isn't so good when you're trying to build a team and build friendships between teammates. ``I told them that the way I went about being a friend to my teammates was subtle. I'm not the Ronny type where I'm jumping up and down, giving high fives and dancing. I was doing little things behind the scenes. On whether he'd have done things differently: I don't live life with regrets. Everything is a learning experience. I've learned definitely from this experience as a Laker and I'm a stronger person because of it. On Phil Jackson: Everybody knows that Phil Jackson has a lot of layers. He's a very deep person and he has his own methods of doing things, his way of life and his thinking. He's the Zen master, but not everybody in here believes in Zen. ... I like Phil Jackson. I love him as a coach. He's a good guy. He's quiet, like myself. He's not a loud, outspoken person. All I said was I stopped trying to figure out why he did certain things. It wasn't that I didn't like him or his coaching style. I wasn't trying to figure him out, I was just trying to play for him and be the point guard he wanted me to be. </div> Link The article was titled, Smush's Last Words. And in the article, it pretty much sounded like Smush was saying his goodbye. Everyone should read the article, I think it's interesting to see what type of person Smush really was. He says it himself that he's somewhat a loner, quiet type of person. I almost felt sorry for him for a second or two.... But then I realized he's just Smush Parker and now I'm fine! Bye Smush
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post"> But then I realized he's just Smush Parker and now I'm fine! </div> Personal feelings aside, it's good that Smush will be off the team.
Smush is Gone <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers already have made one decision, and that was to let Smush Parker know he won't be back next season. "Smush is not someone that we are going to actively seek out to come back and play with us," Phil Jackson said Friday. Parker started 162 straight games for the Lakers before he lost his job with two games left in the regular season; he didn't play much in the playoffs. His attitude had been questioned by the staff and his teammates. A free agent as of July 1, Parker regressed in his second year in LA. He shot worse from the field (.436) and free-throw line (.646), and his points (11.1), assists (2.8), rebounds (2.5) and steals (1.5) all were down. </div> Link
<div class="quote_poster">tycoon21 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">i think smush is sick and i hope he can make it to another playoff team.</div> You're joking right? Please tell me you're joking
For the amount the Lakers were paying him, Smush Parker really played considerable well. He didn't even make a million dollars last year, despite his role as a starting point guard. Smush is a solid player in the NBA, is he ever going to be an all star? No, but he will find work somewhere.
Thanks for the article. I like Smush, and to be honest, if we're talking NBA salaries, I can see why Smush felt so unmotivated when Vlad Radmanovic gets paid 7 million and Smush, the starting point guard, makes less than a million. Yeah, I know what you're going to say.....wah wah right? Well, this is the NBA, and he was the starting point guard. All I'm saying is, if he got paid a little better, it would have motivated him. However, money aside, Smush should have played his butt off and put in 110% EVERY game and Lakers would have compensated him very nicely and would have had him rejoin the team. Now he may be out of a job. I agree with what Smush says that it's not in personality. That's just who he is, love him or hate him, the dude has skills and is a very good ball player. He did not, however, excel in the Triangle offense. But he can be great on defense when he gives it his all, and his ball handling and dribbling is fantastic. He has major ups, and can make the open shot. I wouldn't be very surprised if another team picked Smush up for pretty cheap, who knows. I just hope Smush can still afford the Smushcalade
Believe it or not, I like Smush. I think he will become a solid player, and a solid back up someday. His personality isn't too hard to understand. My family and I are like that. However, he didn't excel in the triangle offense, and he didn't give it his all night in and night out. I wish him the best, but honestly, this is the best for us.
I like Smush's personality, I have no problems with that (except with the fact that he clashed heads with Phil Jackson). If you listen to the guy's interviews, he seems down to earth, and just seems like an average joe. I also heard that Smush still hasn't bought himself a home yet. He has been living in hotels for the past 2 years because he has never found job security anywhere in his basketball career. He was hoping Los Angeles would give him the long term deal he was looking for, so he could settle down. Unfortuantely, it's not going to happen. I appreciate Smush for being a training camp after thought, and making the roster, but it's time to move on. Smush has all the talent to become a solid NBA player. He is extremely athletic, has great size, and has a decent shot, but he just needs the right attitude and he needs to work harder. But am I upset that Smush is leaving? Not at all.
good ridance you loser! smush sucks, there is no point feeling sypathetic for the guy, he is classic example of an arrogant new york street baller who holds no skill in the art of the point gaurd position. his basketball IQ is about 10, which makes him retarded, no point having a retard in the nba, thats what the nbdl is for. with smush gone i garantee that we win more games than this season and get into the second round, barring some sort of serious injury to kobe.
I think Smush has the tools to get it done, and maybe he needs a different coach (I think Detroit would be a good fit for Smush). As well maybe Smush feels getting paid 800k when Vlad Radmonovic made over 6 times as much as him (with a guaranteed contract for another 4 years), or Shammond Williams, Smush played 7 times as many minutes, yet Shammond made twice as much as Smush. I think if Smush played under a Billups or a top 20 pg it would help too.
Yeh I can see Smush definitely getting a new contract now after his stint with the lakers has finished. Can anybody ever see him coming back with his new team and dropping loads of points on the lakers? nah More to the point...who replaces smush? Williams and Farmar? Or will LA look for a new point? Brian does this mean you will have to get rid of your sig?
I think if the Lakers could get a hold of Billups that would be great. Farmar might step up as a starter or compete with someone they might be able to sign like Jason Hart, Steve Blake, Boykins, or Dooling. Or maybe set up some type of trade for a pg.
<div class="quote_poster">illmatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks for the article. I like Smush, and to be honest, if we're talking NBA salaries, I can see why Smush felt so unmotivated when Vlad Radmanovic gets paid 7 million and Smush, the starting point guard, makes less than a million. Yeah, I know what you're going to say.....wah wah right? Well, this is the NBA, and he was the starting point guard. All I'm saying is, if he got paid a little better, it would have motivated him. However, money aside, Smush should have played his butt off and put in 110% EVERY game and Lakers would have compensated him very nicely and would have had him rejoin the team. Now he may be out of a job. I agree with what Smush says that it's not in personality. That's just who he is, love him or hate him, the dude has skills and is a very good ball player. He did not, however, excel in the Triangle offense. But he can be great on defense when he gives it his all, and his ball handling and dribbling is fantastic. He has major ups, and can make the open shot. I wouldn't be very surprised if another team picked Smush up for pretty cheap, who knows. I just hope Smush can still afford the Smushcalade </div> This is what pisses me off the most about him. He agreed to the contract, all he had to do was play it out and show the team (or other teams) why he deserves a larger deal when he becomes a free agent. Not trying harder because he feels underpaid is a punk move on Smush's part. He should have been motivated for the opportunity alone, you play well, and the money part gets taken care of. Smush is not some young kid with a lot of potential. He's already bounced around the league because of his attitude and selfish behavior.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This is what pisses me off the most about him. He agreed to the contract, all he had to do was play it out and show the team (or other teams) why he deserves a larger deal when he becomes a free agent. Not trying harder because he feels underpaid is a punk move on Smush's part. He should have been motivated for the opportunity alone, you play well, and the money part gets taken care of. Smush is not some young kid with a lot of potential. He's already bounced around the league because of his attitude and selfish behavior.</div> Yup, I agree. If he played his butt off, management would have rewarded him with a nice bonus and not too mention a new contract. What can ya do...
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Brian does this mean you will have to get rid of your sig?</div> Yeah, I'll probably get rid of my sig sometime soon. I don't really have any good ideas right now, so I'm still gonna stick with it
I don't no why people hate him and want to see him go. I think the lakers should have paid more to Smush he was A STARTING PG and some guy like Radmanovic gets pay more than him and doesn't even play come on. I hope Smush finds a good team that will treat him right and pay him decent.Remember Smush did steal the ball from Nash that Game 4 when Lakers whene up 3-1.
