"With all due respect, at no time did I consider returning," he said. And his wishes were fulfilled. Usman Garuba signs for the Warriors and there is no more striking headline. This Tuesday still sent the officiality of the news on the website of the franchise that won four of the last nine rings (in addition to two runners-up), which has in its template with Steph Curry or Klay Thompson and that has been reinforced with Chris Paul. That he spends more than anyone else on salaries (more than 209 million dollars), that has Steve Kerr on the bench and the most attractive basketball in the entire NBA. There goes for the first time a Spaniard (José Calderón came to sign for the San Francisco team, although he never debuted), although with an asterisk.
Find out more
Basketball World Cup.
Garuba, the obsession of a beast without a team
- Editor: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVO (Special Envoy)Jakarta
Garuba, the obsession of a beast without a team
Find out more
Interview.
José Manuel Calderón: "I would be twice 'all star' of the NBA if I had been more selfish"
- Writing: IÑAKO DÍAZ-GUERRA
José Manuel Calderón: "I would be twice 'all star' of the NBA if I had been more selfish"
Because Garuba, 21, has signed for the Warriors, yes, with the Golden State and with the Santa Cruz. A dual contract (two way), shared with the affiliated team that plays the G-League and also coaches Kerr, but his son Nick. His salary of $ 508,891 does not count in the NBA franchise and has some limitations: he can not play more than 50 games in the 'first team' and does not allow him to play the playoffs.
So much for the bad news. Because the outlook is still hopeful for the Spanish international. In the first place, because it fulfills his priority of continuing to explore the NBA route, the competition to which he arrived three seasons ago and in which he did not have enough opportunities in the Rockets. After a summer of up to three transfers to finally be cut by the Thunder (they paid him the more than two million dollars he was going to receive this course), he was free, no NBA team claimed him for their templates and rumors about the return to a Real Madrid that maintains its rights in Europe skyrocketed.
Finally, as reported by EL MUNDO, Garuba accepted one of the several two-way proposals he had on the table and that he valued during the World Cup dispute. He remained firm in his intentions, announced without blushing on social networks: "I will prove everyone wrong. Remember these words." And he has ended up in nothing less than the Warriors, a team that had him under his radar for a long time and in which the panorama, for many reasons, can be very favorable for his characteristics.
As highlighted on the website of the Californian franchise, the mirror of Usman for a long time in Draymond Green. A fierce, versatile guy, not too tall, decisive defensively, with enormous passing ability and speed to adapt to the frenetic game that Steve Kerr proposes and Curry executes. "I really like watching Draymond. There are tons of clips of him on my iPad. I learn a lot from him: how he plays defensively. Also the way he communicates with his teammates and his leadership on the court. It makes everything easier for the Warriors," the Spaniard said long ago in Hooshype.
Because the Warriors, who declined to finally strengthen with the veteran Dwigt Howard, are not giant centers and there Usman can find a huge loophole. Kerr is joined by just three interior players, Green himself, starter Kevon Looney and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis. The tallest player on the roster is Dario Saric (2.08), a power forward with a clear tendency to the perimeter. "We have several players who can play '5' and we want Garuba to play. We want players to have minutes and games to be able to evaluate talent," said new General Manager Mike Dunleavy.
In The Athletic they also value with optimism the arrival of a Garuba who, after the World Cup has not stopped preparing, with exhausting individual sessions in his native Azuqueca de Henares. "A piece of depth and great potential," they warn.
- NBA