The NBA world received a shock on Monday when Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times tweet-reported that Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders had told the team that he "doesn't want to play basketball anymore." The report came as a surprise not only because Sanders is in the first season of the four-year, $44-million extension he signed in August 2013, but because he appeared to be committed to reclaiming some lost credibility following a very disappointing season on and off the court in 2013-14. While Sanders had been away from the team for personal reasons since December 23, there was little indication that his career was in the balance.
Sanders rejoined the Bucks for Tuesday's home game vs. the Phoenix Suns, albeit in street clothes. He cleared up some of the questions surrounding his future with the team and the reasons for his absence with reporters after Milwaukee's 102-96 loss. From Joe Totoraitis for the Associated Press:
''It feels great to be around the guys again,'' Sanders said after his first public appearance with the team in two weeks. ''There is no timetable for my return.''
Sanders was vague, but said he was making progress, getting to the root of his issues and correcting them.
''Without these things being corrected, I don't think basketball will be something I can even do,'' he said.
He said that speculation he might walk off the court for good simply was false.
''But, what is true,'' he said, ''is that I'm in the process of working things out now to do as best for my psyche and my physical health going forward. There's a lot of evaluating going on. There's a lot of inside talk just to put myself in the best place for my health right now.'' [...]
''We're going to support him,'' Bucks guard Khris Middleton said. ''He's one of our teammates. He's our brother. We're always going to be there no matter what. He's a big part of our team.''
BrewHoop has video of Sanders, if you'd like to listen to his comments.
The Bucks are now 4-3 without Sanders, but it seems like the importance of his absence goes well beyond the team's record. While Sanders doesn't give many details on his situation, it can be inferred that he is undergoing personal difficulties or is struggling with some psychological block that is precluding him from playing for Milwaukee. Concerns about the Bucks getting their money's worth or the team adding a big man seem minor in comparison with Sanders's mental health.
At the same time, there's not necessarily a contradiction here between this explanation and Woelfel's Monday tweetstorm. If we take Sanders at his word and accept that he wants to return to the court when he's able, then it's also possible that he told the Bucks that he has no interest in basketball as long as his current situation persists. It could well be a matter of what's possible right now rather than what Sanders desires long-term.
However, Sanders can continue to be the subject of rumors and similar reports as long as his situation remains vague. The fact that he hasn't explained things in much depth suggests that his privacy is more important to his betterment than a potential lack of speculation. Here's hoping he's able to get to where he needs to be soon.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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