The Los Angeles Lakers are in transition. Jodie Meeks will not be part of that transition. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, via his sources at Yahoo, Meeks will sign a three year, $20 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. The former Kentucky Wildcat is moving on.
Coach Cal may be known for running a de facto NBDL franchise, a basketball vocational institution, but Jodie Meeks going back to school to get his degree is a great story, and one that will go under-reported. He came back to finish up and graduate in Mid May, and met the media in Lexington for some q&a.
“It’s kind of therapy for me. Here it’s quiet. Nobody really bothers you. If they bother you it’s in a good way. Picture, autograph, it’s nothing. In L.A. it’s all about glitz and glamour so to get away from that is fun,” said Jodie Meeks.
“I work out while I’m here, and see the (UK) coaches, see old friends and family. For me it’s kind of therapy to get away and clear my mind.”
The L.A. Lakers only have three players under contract for next season so it’ll be an interesting summer for them on many levels. But the most interesting soundbite from the Jodie Meeks presser may have been his insight on Big Blue Nation.
“Everywhere I go people, and even in LA, look at me. When I was in Philly and Washington it was like Kentucky fans everywhere. I went to China and there was
Kentucky fans and I was like ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ The fans here and around the world are great and they know their basketball.”
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports and Yahoo! The Postgame. He’s been a guest on news talk shows all across the world. Banks has been featured in numerous media outlets including NFL.com, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Deadspin, ESPN, NBC, the History Channel and more. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)