How did the commerce occur? VLADE DIVAC: Magic and another gamers had retired, and I used to be one of many solely veterans left. New gamers have been coming in, and the Lakers initially wished to commerce one other participant for Kobe. Nevertheless, Charlotte insisted on me. The Lakers actually wished Kobe, seeing him as a possible MVP, and so they cleared cap area to usher in Shaquille O’Neal too. In fact, I used to be indignant, I didn’t need to depart, however trying again now, I might have traded myself for Kobe. There have been rumors that the commerce virtually fell via since you refused to go to the Hornets. Is that true? VLADE DIVAC: Once they instructed me concerning the commerce, I refused. I mentioned I wouldn’t go. Then they defined that it was in my contract, that if I didn’t agree, I wouldn’t be capable of play basketball anymore. That’s once I made it clear that I performed basketball out of affection, and if that meant not taking part in anymore, then so be it. Cash is sweet, but it surely comes naturally. I’m not somebody who would go someplace simply because another person desires me to. I performed basketball for the enjoyment of it. The second it stopped being enjoyable for me, I might cease taking part in. That’s once they realized they couldn’t break me, so that they modified their strategy. They held a gathering with me and requested me to at the very least go there for 2 or three weeks to at the very least go there for 2 or three weeks to see if I’d prefer it. Then I may determine. Once I arrived in Charlotte, I noticed that I may really take pleasure in it there, so I accepted. However, sure, these ten days have been actually tense. -via Index / September 21, 2024
