Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:00 am EDT

'Nique on Josh Childress playing overseas: 'Not a good move'

By Nick Friedell

Ed. note: When he's not dominating BDL correspondents in P-I-G, NBA legend Dominique Wilkins works as a vice-president for the Atlanta Hawks. After the game at the POWERade Fantasy Camp mercifully ended, Nick Friedell asked 'Nique a few questions about his team. Here's the brief Q and A ...

Q: What do you expect to see from the Hawks this season?

Dominique Wilkins: I think this year they're a more experienced team because they've been through a playoff and got a taste of winning. So I think they're going to come in more focused ... I think we've got some better pieces to this team than we had last year. Hopefully, they can create some chemistry, kind of get (in) a flow early, because when you get new guys on a team, even though they're talented they don't have that chemistry with guys who have been there for a while. I think with this group of guys we've got some veteran people that can come in and kind of mesh, hopefully start winning games early in the season, because we've got to come out of the box early.

Q: Josh Childress went over to Greece, you actually played overseas, did you talk to him before he left?

DW: I didn't get the chance to talk to him. I don't think his people wanted him to talk to me. I would have told him, you might want to re-think that decision this early in your career. This early in your career you don't want to take risky moves. I played in Greece, basketball is great over there, but when you're talking about guaranteed contracts it don't mean nothing over there, it means absolutely nothing ... I just think when you're away from the NBA, it's that whole "out of sight, out of mind" (thinking)." So, I wish him luck but that's a risky move.

Q: Do you think it was the wrong move?

DW: I do, I do. Again a young guy coming in the league, who's been in the league 3-4 years and you get a nice offer from your (NBA) team but you take a chance on a few more dollars to go to Europe, I don't think it's a good move.

Q: Bigger picture: What do you see coming into this season, do you think the Celtics can repeat?

DW: Well the Celtics are going to be good. They may even be a better team (because of) some of the pieces they've added to that team, but I think the whole East is going to be better ... it's not going to be an easy road for anyone.

Q: Do you have a favorite going into the season?

DW: (Smiles) Hawks.

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15 Comments

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  1. Farhan
    1. Posted by Farhan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Figures Nique would say that about Josh Childress he is on the Hawks payroll.
    Plus look at all the players who play for a couple of years in Europe and come back to the NBA, Rasho, Dirk, Calderon, it's a different basketball world from when Nique went to Europe.
  2. hans k
    2. Posted by hans k Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Think it is a good move for childress. This kid loves other cultures, playing in europe will suit him ver well!
  3. CB 4
    3. Posted by CB 4 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    He is probably one of the few players who can handle the culture change. I always thought he had the ability to do more for the Hawks, but he won't get the opportunity playing for the Hawks. Josh Smith is the guy they want to develop. He would have been a great fit for the Suns.
  4. TheOtherBootyBrother
    4. Posted by TheOtherBootyBrother Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    nique might be on the hawk's payroll but he does have something of a point simply because childress plays the most replaceable of all nba parts...the 6'7"/6'8" combo player. sure, he does it better than most right now but in a few years after playing overseas there are bound to be plenty more of them coming up, add that to the fact that childress won't be getting younger while he's over there and he may just end up staying in europe longer than he had planned.
    which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
  5. frobisherj
    5. Posted by frobisherj Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Why did you post a picture of Bubbles?
  6. the_great_kaiteng
    6. Posted by the_great_kaiteng Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    Is that Big Sofo on the left side? He looks like he was gonna eat somebody.....
  7. eddie
    7. Posted by eddie Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    'Nique doesn't realize that Josh is a Stanford man- as opposed to...well..whatever u wanna call Nique
  8. mike d
    8. Posted by mike d Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    A few more dollars?
    C'mon Nique.
    I think his contract w/ the Hawks would have paid him 4.5 million(U.S.) for next year.
    His contract w/ Greece pays him 20 million Euros over three years. So he would make 13.5 million(U.S.) over the course of a three year contract w/ the Hawks, and basically 30 million(U.S.) w/ his 3 year Greek contract.
    Oh, and it's tax free over there, w/ a private chef, company vehicle, and housing.
    I think Josh did ok for himself.
  9. SistaStrong1
    9. Posted by SistaStrong1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:24 pm EDT

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    If what you are saying is true Mike, which I do not doubt. I am thinking he did all right for himself as well. I do know players get even more glamor and respect overseas. Either way, he is doing something he loves and getting paid well for it. How many of us can really say that?
  10. mike d
    10. Posted by mike d Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    Sistastrong...exactly.
    He is a young kid, w/ a lot of talent, who jumped at the right opportunity. W/ the money that he makes, he will be financially set for life, and free to do as he wishes.
    Best of luck to him!
  11. da bigg bear
    11. Posted by da bigg bear Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    Hey, Nique. Do I smell sour grapes? When you went to Europe, it was at the end of your career and you had no other options. Also, the American economy was a little more robust and dollars were worth alot more than euros. Are you kidding, Nique? We're trying to get the top euros to come here so even the competition is a lot better.
    And last but not least, Nique, the guy went to Stanford for God's sake. He needs to experience the world!!!!!!!!!!
  12. Too much fantasy
    12. Posted by Too much fantasy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    I didn't know that it wasn't guaranteed money. That makes a big difference. I didn't hear anything about a signing bonus, so if he gets seriously hurt in his first year, he might only end up making 2 months worth of salary and that whole $20M dollar contract goes out the window...whereas in the NBA, you get paid so long as you don't retire or violate your contract.
  13. atl_spy8
    13. Posted by atl_spy8 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    i think it is good move for childress every thing is for business and hawks didnot over what he is making right now
  14. dj
    14. Posted by dj Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    i don't think it's about 'getting a few more dollars' at all. there's this little thing called respect. i would love to see josh succeed in europe.
  15. The Devil
    15. Posted by The Devil Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    Dominique Wilkins had plenty of options in the NBA when he went to Greece. He came back 2 or 3 years later and averaged 18 a game for the Spurs. I think what Dominique knows is that Childress is going to struggle with the European game and that his contract isn't worth jack if the team doesn't think he lives up to it. So far his play has been pretty mediocre, even sub-par, from what I've heard. Don't be surprised to see Josh begging for an NBA job next year.

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