Eleven seasons in the Major League, a good part of which as a solid starter in his position, several conference finals… Twenty-seventh choice in the 2009 Draft, DeMarre Carroll had a great career as a role player in the NBA, notably between the Hawks, the Raptors and the Nets.
But all this could have never happened. Speaking to the microphone of Thanasis Antetokounmpo podcastKenny Atkinson's new assistant at the Cavs, says his life almost changed one night while he was out with his teammates.
” We were at a party. My teammates and some other guys ended up fighting. I tried to get in the middle and grab one of my teammates and say, 'Come on, let's go. Everybody, let's go, we gotta get out of here.' Somebody he was fighting with pulled out a gun. “, Carroll reports.
The man in question, clearly aware that they are basketball players, then tries to aim at… his teammate's leg. He was trying to shoot him in the leg to end his career. So I caught him and I tried to push him back, and I ended up getting shot. I ended up getting shot “, Carroll repeats.
The “Luckiest” Person in the World
The latter simply believes that he behaved like a ” good teammate “. An understatement…” I took one step, I fell straight to the ground. They rushed me to the hospital. I was like, 'My career is over.' The bullet missed my Achilles tendon by a hair. I was told I was probably the luckiest person on the planet at that moment.. »
DeMarre Carroll does not provide any further context, the name of the teammate, the team, or the location and especially the year of the altercation. But everything suggests that the scene occurred a few years before his arrival in the NBA.
A story that dates back to university years
In June 2007, AP reported that Carroll, introduced as the nephew of Missouri Tigers coach Mike Anderson, had been shot in the ankle in an incident outside a local nightclub. Then 20, Carroll had just dropped out of Vanderbilt University to play alongside his uncle.
” This was a scary situation for DeMarre and we will help him through it. We are very relieved that the injuries sustained by all involved do not appear to be life threatening. ” reacted Mike Anderson at the time.
