On the morning of April 19, Brandon Roy received a text from Blazers GM Joe Cronin. It’s not really a surprise since the two talk to each other quite regularly.
However, this time, the leader has a special request for the 38-year-old former Portland star: to represent the Oregon franchise during the “lottery”, this Tuesday, May 16. Like he did in 2007.
“I read this message and the first thing I say to myself is: yes, of course”he tells The Athletic. “But I said to myself that we shouldn’t say yes right away, that we had to see if everything was going well. I remembered the last time, it was a great experience. So I wrote back to Cronin to tell him that I wanted to call him, to get details. »
“I want to come back to the NBA universe”
Once the telephone discussion is over, Roy agrees. By accepting the Blazers’ proposal, the former player is getting closer to the franchise, whereas since his premature retirement, he had remained carefully away from the news of Portland. He therefore became a coach in high school and mainly took care of his four children. A healthy break, before now slowly returning to the Blazers.
“I never imagined for a moment that I could be contacted by the Blazers and be part of the franchise, ever. I wanted to stay away from basketball. It was hard not being able to play at only 28 or 29 years old. I walked away and it did me good. I was able to start my life over. There, it’s like a first step. We spoke with Joe Cronin about coming back to see matches next season. I want to normalize things and get back into the NBA universe. I’m starting to think about it seriously. »
The Blazers are ready to make way for Roy within the franchise, but the latter specified that he still needed two years to continue to follow his children, in particular Brandon Jr. who will enter high school. “I imagine myself joining the Blazers. Joe and I talked about that.”he explains.
No doubt this conversation will come back on the table Tuesday evening, after the “lottery”, since the two men have agreed to eat together in Chicago, with the staff of the franchise. “It will be an opportunity to meet new people, to start building relationships with them”announces Roy.
| Brandon Roy | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2006-07 | ORP | 57 | 35 | 45.6 | 37.7 | 83.8 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2007-08 | ORP | 74 | 38 | 45.4 | 34.0 | 75.3 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2008-09 | ORP | 78 | 37 | 48.0 | 37.7 | 82.4 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 22.6 |
| 2009-10 | ORP | 65 | 37 | 47.3 | 33.0 | 78.0 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 21.5 |
| 2010-11 | ORP | 47 | 28 | 40.0 | 33.3 | 84.8 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2012-13 | MIN | 5 | 24 | 31.4 | 0.0 | 70.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 5.8 |
| Total | 326 | 36 | 45.9 | 34.8 | 80.0 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 18.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
