The thrill is gone for Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders who’s just two months into the first season of a four-year, $44 million contract extension. Sanders has been telling friends (and some Bucks officials) that he just doesn’t want to play anymore.
Sanders has missed the last six games for what was originally reported by Bucks’ coach Jason Kidd as the flu, but now he says it was for “personal reasons”. Friends told Racine Journal Times Columnist, Gery Woelfel, last summer that they were concerned Sanders wasn’t committed to basketball and wanted to explore other options.
A Bucks official said the team had attempted to trade Sanders, along with Brandon Knight, to the Pacers last summer for Roy Hibbert but obviously that didn’t happen. Sanders had high aspirations for a big season but that hasn’t materialized. He’s averaging 7.3 points and just 6.1 rebounds and if the Bucks are looking for someone willing to trade for him now, NBA officials say, “Good Luck”.
I can definitely understand not having the passion to do something anymore. I think we all go through it. I sincerely hope that is the case here and it’s not some type of bout with depression (which seems likely too, due to the missed games). Hopefully Sanders can figure out what it is he wants to do and find happiness in doing it.
