Dennis Schroder: 4 Players who made worse contract decisions
By Ronald Agers
Remember when the Lakers beat the T’Wolves “Big 3” of Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell?
In 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves brought in some help for Kevin Garnett who was getting antsy about first round playoff losses. Those players were Sam Cassell, who was the most playoff ready free agent on the market and Latrell Sprewell who had burned all of the bridges he built taking the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999.
In the most notorious story anyone will ever hear about Latrell Sprewell (Remember Spree had a controversial incident with his then-coach PJ Carlesimo, who he threatened to kill and choked that got him suspended for the rest of the season), will be about how he made the worst work-related decision in the history of not only the NBA, but professional sports…PERIOD!
The Wolves offered him a three year, $21 million contract. Latrell felt lowballed and declined their offer. But it was the quote that made him infamous something he blames the media for taking out of context…
"“Why would I want to help them win a title? They’re not doing anything for me. I’m at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed,”"
Sprewell bet on himself and ran out his contract but underperformed expecting the Timberwolves to up their offer or draw interest from another team. Neither happened. Latrell Sprewell never played a minute of NBA basketball again.
Since then…
- By the end of 2007, he was sued by his long-term partner for $200 million.
- His yacht, named “Milwaukee’s Best” repossessed,
- There was a default on his $1.5 million mortgage and Milwaukee went after him for $3 million in back taxes.
- He lost another home.
- All told Sprewell made around $100 million in his career and his current net worth is a mere $150,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In the end, the NBA is a huge corporate business where the owners stare down players for not only salaries, but the overall revenue. There’s a reason why Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and LeBron James command those salaries, because they are supposed to.
Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark
But for now, cut Dennis Schroder some slack. It could have been worse.