Lewis Has No Regrets About Leaving Seattle

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<div class="bi">No Regrets</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic">Nov 13</span> - Rashard Lewis faces the same Seattle franchise tonight that he spent the first nine years of his career with. He stressed Monday he will resist the temptation to try and do too much against a Sonics organization that had only lukewarm interest in him when he became a restricted free agent. He said leaving Seattle was emotional, but he said he hasn't regretted his decision to leave not once.</p>

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"It was a little emotional, but I knew it was a business. I had to look to the future and not dwell on the past," he said. "The difference is we have a dominant big man in Dwight Howard (in Orlando), while in Seattle we were always changing lineups. It would be a different starting five every game. I was the best post-up player (in Seattle), and here we have Dwight." -- <font color="#000000">Florida Today</font></p>

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[*]"When Ray was traded, I didn't know what direction we were going, but I knew they were starting over," he said. "The thought was, maybe it is time to really look elsewhere." -- <font color="#000000">Orlando Sentinel</font>

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[*]He has a new coach, Stan Van Gundy, and a new number. In Seattle he wore No. 7, but here he's No. 9.

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In Seattle, they called him Sweet Lew, but here he's Max. As in, maximum contract. The A-Rod burden of living up to his enormous contract weighed heavily on Lewis early on.</p>

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"I thought in the preseason that he was feeling the pressure and I asked him, and he admitted that he was wanting to prove to be people that he was worth it and that it was a good thing," Van Gundy said. "He did feel that pressure, and I don't think he needs to." -- <font color="#000000">Seattle Times</font></p>

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[*]Lewis said he had no idea he played his final game for the Sonics when the regular season ended. He opted out of the final two years and $21 million of his contract to test the market but always maintained his desire to return to Seattle. -- <font color="#000000">Seattle Post-Intelligencer</font>

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[*]"We still talk," said Sonics forward Chris Wilcox, who will probably be guarded by his close friend tonight. "He calls and gives me encouraging words, just like I'll call to say, 'Good game.' It's a great situation for him. He got paid and he got put in a situation where he can grow. That's what the NBA is about ? getting to a situation where you can grow and where you're wanted." -- <font color="#000000">Seattle Times</font></div>
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