Ex-Celtic and still fan-favorite Brian Scalabrine played seven games for Benetton Treviso, a professional basketball team in Italy, then abruptly left to come stateside in hopes of a new contract in the NBA. That didn’t go over too well with Benetton Treviso’s coach.
“A disappointment on the human side, I didn’t expect that. This is my personal opinion,” head coach Alexander Djordjevic said, according to Eurobasket.com. “He was the first NBA player in Europe to go back to the USA without a contract, without playing the latest games and help the team and greet the fans, all at 33 years ago only for going on his knees to his wife that wanted him back.”
It’s unclear whether Djordjevic’s English is a little rusty or it’s the result of an awkward translation, but what is clear are the coach’s frustrations about Scalabrine abandoning the team.
“He hasn’t a team and an NBA contract yet. I was counting on his professionalism, respect for the club and especially for his young teammates. He could help us at least until tomorrow, the team needed it, but Scalabrine had a very negative attitude, as already showing in recent weeks, which gave us not so much on the field and beyond, indeed he has also negatively influenced other Americans. We’re thrown off by this, thinking of a serious professional, but caused problems with teammates and club.”
Scalabrine made a more positive impression on teammate and Celtics rookie E’Twaun Moore.
“I ask [Scalabrine] a lot of questions. He has given me a lot of insight — things to look for,” he told the Boston Herald. “He’s told me that everyone on the Celtics is a close family and gets along real well.”
It is uncertain whether Scalabrine has been talking with teams or is just confident in his ability to play in the NBA again, but wherever he goes, he will be a solid addition off the bench.
