Lol I forgot about that demon... But Rizzle still has a point, I can't think of any more...unless you find another one.
Source: Ball Don't Lie He did a better job of explaining my thoughts on Odom's reluctance to listen to his head coach.
Nah most of players on championship teams care a lot about money, I mean whether it's Shaq or Kobe, KG, Posey, Antoine Walker, Ray Allen, etc. or like Ben Wallace who left a team that he had chemistry with and were always one of the top teams in the East, to the Bulls for more money.
Of course most athletes care a lot about money, but the winners don't let that effect their production. Let's look at your list: Shaq took a paycut to play for the Heat. He wanted $33M a year from the Lakers, he settled on $20K from Miami Kobe got paid max money after winning titles with the Lakers, hasn't won a title since his max deal was signed, but he's a max deal player regardless for obvious reasons KG signed his deal with Minnesota & Allen signed his while he was with Seattle, neither won a title up to that point. KG actually signed for less in Minnesota so the team could have money to build around him. I think he passed up on $25M at the time? This was prior to the new CBA agreement and luxury tax penalties teams pay now. Ray Allen was viewed as a prima-donna until he was traded to Boston and accepted a lesser role as 3rd option to KG & Pierce. Antoine Walker is one of the more selfish players in the league. Posey has taken less money on 3 occassions now to play for a title contender (Miami, Boston, & New Orleans) Ben Wallace's career has gone down the crapper since he left Detroit chasing after free agent money. Dumars made the right decision to not pay him franchise player money. I think there was also friction between him and Flip Saunders at the time. These players have agents to handle the business side of basketball for them. Odom's creating a distraction with his non-sense and attitude about a possible change in his role. I think he lives in a fantasy world and thinks too, highly of himself.
First thing lol, if Shaq (or Kobe, KG, Tmac, etc) were ever willing to play for 20k, then I would totally agree. But yea, I don't think Shaq thought he would realistically demand 33 mill in Miami, he just put that number out there in LA, because he was basically saying, I don't want to play with Kobe, if you want me to deal with him, then overpay me. Shaq's paycut may be considered a pay cut for the first 2 years, but then it's overpaying the next 3. So I wouldn't consider it a true paycut. Ray Allen didn't really have much of a choice, KG is still an elite PF and ex-MVP, and Paul Pierce is the team Captain and long time Celtic. If he started forcing his way into a #1 or #2 role, he would have been ripped by fans and media. Posey got more money from NO than Boston would have, and he wouldn't have gotten more money elsewhere. He fit in well with Boston, but money speaks. So you agree with Ben Wallace, Antoine Walker. Jason Kidd chose to get a huge contract with the Nets instead of signing for less with the Spurs with Tim Duncan. Nash left an elite Dallas team to a Suns team with a crappy record for more money. Joe Johnson from an elite Phoenix team (offering still a nice contract) to an Atlanta team that is like the worst team in the league. Tmac signed a huge deal to stay with a crappy Orlando team. Even Kobe when he signed with the Lakers they looked crappy, he couldn't have known that Bynum would be drafted and Pau would be stolen/traded for during the next few years. However the Lakers could offer more than the Clippers or any other team. I mean it would have made more sense to go to the Clippers with Brand, Kaman, and Maggette. Rather than Smush, Kwame, and Odom.
I think Shape is criticizing players who care about money, and money alone. Winning championships or succeeding are a distant second, and in Lamar's case, that is true. Lamar has probably never worked on his game during the summer ever since he came into the league. He is the same player now that he was in his rookie year. He doesn't work hard, he doesn't try to improve, he's happy just sitting around earning money. Realistically, if he really wanted to win a championship this year, he would've gone out and practiced his shooting, something he's going to need if he wants to start at SF for us for the entire season. And being the dumb and lazy person Lamar is, he wants to get paid, but he doesn't want to work. I didn't really have much problems with Lamar's comment initially, because I knew where he was coming from. But now after I read the recent reports that he is out of shape in camp, and didn't even touch a basketball in the offseason, I could care less. I want him off the team if it's possible.
Yes I agree DennisRodman, Odom has the same make-up of an Antoine Walker. All the talent and potential in the world, but no desire to maximize it and become a legend of the game. I think Odom could have been the best forward to ever play the game if he studied how to actually play and developed his game throughout his career. He's unbelievably gifted for a person his size. What a waste, an absolute waste.
I totally agree Shapecity that 90% of NBA players care more about money than winning. Whether it's Shaq,Kobe, Tmac, Ray Allen, KG, Antoine Walker, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Lamar Odom, and so forth. Money is their #1 issue. So it's no surprize that Odom would prefer to be a starter than a bench player during a contract year. As every player would.
I played them during my sophmore year on JV basketball that's all....I just wanted to make sure I was recollecting the right school.
