Sanders has underperformed since signing his four-year, $44 million deal 2 summers ago after his breakout 2012-13 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. In that season Sanders averaged 9.8 points per game, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks establishing himself as one of the leagues premiere shot blockers and it also gave the Bucks a green light to sign Sanders to that big extension.
Since that season though, Sanders numbers have dropped. In the last 2 seasons he’s only played 50 games, averaging 7.5 points per game, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, a far cry from his breakout season.
He hasn’t played in the last 6 games for personal reasons and missed a game last week from what the Bucks said was the flu, but a report today says it was due to his personal issues and don’t forget he also was suspended for shoving Nicolas Batum on a layup attempt.
Sanders missing the last 6 games Bucks games due to ‘personal reasons’ is just as surprising as Milwaukee’s start and the Bucks have not elaborated on the reasons why the Bucks big man has missed time. Now there may be a reason.
The following from Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
Sources tell me that Bucks center Larry Sanders recently told some Bucks officials that he doesn't want to play basketball anymore.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
The former member of the VCU Rams has dealt with a multitude of on and off-court issues since entering the NBA in 2010, most notably a nightclub brawl last winter which was followed up with a marijuana suspension later in the year that cut his season short. As of right now, it’s unlikely Sanders returns to the team anytime soon, but it’s too early to say whether or not he will be done for the season.
It’s also important to note that Woelfel’s information comes via “sources,” not Sanders himself, but the big man reportedly told team officials that he no longer wants to play basketball. The Bucks will move on and fight for a playoff spot with Zaza Pachulia and young prospect John Henson as their centers if this report is true.
Sad stuff to see such a young, great NBA talent willing to step aside from the NBA game. If true, Sanders leaving the Bucks would be a big blow to the surprising Milwaukee Bucks team, who is also without Jabari Parker for a very long time.
