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. Nonetheless, Charlotte insisted on me. The Lakers actually wished Kobe, seeing him as a possible MVP, and so they cleared cap house to herald Shaquille O’Neal too. After all, I used to be indignant, I didn’t wish to depart, however trying again now, I might have traded myself for Kobe. There have been rumors that the commerce virtually fell by since you refused to go to the Hornets. Is that true? VLADE DIVAC: Once they advised me concerning the commerce, I refused. I stated I wouldn’t go. Then they defined that it was in my contract, that if I didn’t agree, I wouldn’t be capable to play basketball anymore. That’s once I made it clear that I performed basketball out of affection, and if that meant not enjoying anymore, then so be it. Cash is good, but it surely comes naturally. I’m not somebody who would go someplace simply because another person needs me to. I performed basketball for the enjoyment of it. The second it stopped being enjoyable for me, I might cease enjoying. That’s once they realized they couldn’t break me, in order that they modified their method. They held a gathering with me and requested me to at the least go there for 2 or three weeks to at the least go there for 2 or three weeks to see if I’d prefer it. Then I might determine. Once I arrived in Charlotte, I noticed that I might really get pleasure from it there, so I accepted. However, sure, these ten days have been actually tense. -via Index / September 21, 2024