Juancho Hernangomez told Daniel Arribas of El Pais (hat tip to HoopsHype) that he “can’t picture himself” returning to Europe next season, despite speculation about that possibility. “I have spoken to nobody or signed any offer,” he said.
While the Celtics are three wins away from the championship, Hernangomez said his 18-game stint with Boston wasn’t a pleasant experience. “I wasn’t happy there, it was very hard. There was no communication,” he said. “I didn’t know what was expected of me. There were many super selfish players, no team building. I lost my love for basketball a bit.”
Hernangomez finished the season with the Jazz and is technically under contract through 2022/23, but his $7.42MM salary for next season is non-guaranteed. Utah is expected to make him a free agent before the guarantee deadline at the end of the month.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Magic forward Ignas Brazdeikis will play for Lithuania in FIBA World Cup qualifiers this summer, according to BasketNews.com. “I want to play, and I will play for Lithuania,” Brazdeikis said. Brazdeikis was born in Lithuania but grew up in Canada, and has a Canadian passport. It took nearly two years for the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) to complete all the paperwork required to receive official FIBA confirmation he could play for their national team.
- NBA coaches and players frustrated by transition take fouls will see a rules change next season, according to commissioner Adam Silver, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes. The fouls, committed to prevent fast-break baskets, will include stiffer penalties next season. The G League rule awards teams one free throw and possession, while international rules have a penalty of two free throws plus possession.
- Fenerbahce is currently leading the race for former NBA guard Naz Mitrou-Long, according to Italian newspaper La Prealpina (hat tip to Sportando). Mitrou-Long is also being pursued by Olimpia Milano after a strong season with Germani Brescia. He appeared in 20 NBA games, most recently with Indiana in 2019/20.
Sour apples, Juanchoooooo
“selfish players” who are now playing for a championship together. Without you.
To be fair, he was on the same team as Enes Kanter and Dennis Shroeder, two of the most selfish players in the league who also were jettisoned. He’s not talking about Derrick White.
@Orien
Dude use context. He played on Boston up until mid December I think. They were barely over .500. Their new coach was being questioned, they were not the same defense as now and weren’t looking like a playoff team. Things obviously turned sound as they bought into three coaching. He could even be a part of the problem but clearly the team was not performing well and had lousy team chemistry at the time.
He needs to use context. I don’t.
@Orien
Ummmm not how that works. He’s basing his first hand experience on exactly what was happening. You’re basing yours on what transpired afterwards in retrospect. Big difference.
Until Udoka got buy-in from Tatum, that was the Celtics.
I raised this about Udoka, that he would be a jolt to what had settled in in Boston. He would not be on that wavelenth and the players would have to adjust. Or, it could be a fiasco of disagreement— and maybe it was for a while.
They had to dump Shroeder, and Udoka had to make his peace with Tatum. Udoka goes into this often in so many words.
Such a difference between Shroeder and White! Even Smart calmed down.
BTW Juancho statistically had mabe his best year ever despite his adversity. He does nott remind me of the Jazz, but he is a good get now.
Orien, he did play selfishly, maybe still does, but he was basically told to in DEN & MIN to maximize his time. Not sure now, after BOS & UTA.
Nah. That’s how it works. I am an anonymous commenter on the internet. Youre one of 2 people in the world who GAF about my comment.
That was mysterious, but I think you mean, you post to jab, not debate. But that jab hit a truth-teller doing what truth-tellers do. I like hearing about things and in this case, reading a confirmation of Celtics 2022 in awkward foreign defensive English.
Celtic players say similar— are now speaking of overcoming adversity, referring to Juancho’s era there. But it was the era of the new coach trying to get buy-in from the stars, not anything concerning a third-stringer.
“Hey Tatum. Coach can dump you too unless you play some D”
I believe Juancho does not excel on D side. He can shoot and has good size for a wing. He showed promise in Minny as a rotation guy. He’s still young enough to get it right. Team D doesn’t take great talent. It’s mostly effort and IQ. You gotta want to do it Juancho. Maybe you’d still be playing lol.
I agree 100% with breakaway fouls. Should be 2 FTs and the ball. Learn to make a good foul or get out the way. This is long overdue.
Boston would be such a useless, miserable and undeserving champion, go Golden State and Steph!!
Care to enlarge on that statement?
Lol you think every team but your own is low-level and classless. People like you are the reason it’s difficult for me to not root against GS
Also, how can a league champion be “undeserving” unless they actively cheat?
No disrespect to the Warriors but they got their doors kicked in in their own house by a younger team playing their game whose best player went 3 for 17. Given Tatum probably has the best 3-17 game I’ve ever seen, but still.
Exactly right Tacocat.. they shot the lights out and played an incredible game moving the ball and tough defense. Let’s see if the Warriors can make the right adjustments and pull out a game at home.
But the Warriors needed a little adversity. Even with the incredible shooting they only lost by 8 or 10. Celtics won’t shoot like that again I hope. First loss at home for these Warriors this play off-season. Game 2 should be awesome. Loving how the Celtics play, but hope the Warriors can get it done.
And Steph is not gong to have another 21 pt quarter and Otto Port will not stay hot. Celtics did catch fire. The Warriors have no one to cover Brown. Tatum will have great game to win one. So the Celtics need to just find 2 more. Horford will get hit again and Grant or Smart will too. Klay will win one for GSW. Green needs to play basketball and not journalism. Payton should be back for game 2.
I don’t have a dog in the fight. I love watching the Warriors especially when Curry gets in the zone with the mouthpiece hanging out, shooting from everywhere with unbridled confidence or Thompson just draining 3 after 3 after running off screen after screen and even Dray barking out orders telling his boys where to be on D. I’d be fine with them winning one more.
However the Warriors have already cemented their legacy especially Curry whose play style changed the game forever so I also wouldn’t mind at all if the younger stars like Brown and Tatum started their ascension into what will hopefully be long and storied careers.
Brown & Tatum are who I do nott root for, but it’s a great matchup in general.
Celtics are simply the better team. Their defense is better and their offense can hang with the Warriors.
I’m a Warriors fan but the Celtics look like the more balanced team. Unfortunately, they’re going win the title.
This series is far from over. The Warriors have been here before and know how to win. Kerr will sit down with his guys and watch film and figure out a way to free up Poole. While they completed shut down Tatum’s scoring I think they’ll have to figure out a way to address Tatum dishing 13 assists. They can live with Tatum scoring 20-25 points. He killed them though with those 13 assists.
Warriors in 6 ish
The winning team always deserves it.
I’ll take a useless, undeserving championship over a useful deserved Finals loser anytime.
Juancho is a better actor than NBA player…
Haha …. nice
Juancho wasn’t happy for one reason. Udoka (wisely) wouldn’t play him.
Hustle is going to be released next week.
Juancho is simply promoting his movie lol.
Warriors are a small team. If they can’t get their shots to drop. Then they will lose. Their offense is built for open looks. And layups off those looks. For that they need clock. Like Smart said. You got to get up on them. Pick them up full court. Their offense does not run as efficient. When you are picking them up high. You can’t let them face you if possible. Team D …….. it’s half the game.
All Finals teams can score. It’s who plays better team D that has the advantage.
Half the Game …… when will we learn ?
Half the Game. Half the Game