Team U.S.A.'s Millsap says Beermen made the wrong decision by dropping Elijah
Paul Millsap did not think he was going to be here. He wanted to but he didn’t imagine it was possible. The Atlanta forward is one of the most overlooked players in the NBA because of his skillset. He’s very good at what he does but he’s not as flashy as Blake Griffin and his numbers are not as gaudy as Kevin Love’s so an invitation to Team U.S.A. as a far fetched idea for him.
However, Love and Griffin both dropped out of the U.S.A. Men’s Basketball Team. This left Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Andre Drummond as the only legitimate big men on the 19-man list.
The team officials called Millsap late and he said yes in a heartbeat.
“I was very excited because I didn’t know if I was going to have the chance to do it,” Millsap said after training. “My game is pretty European so I hope it translates well in Spain."
During scrimmage, Millsap and Davis were visibly looking for more outside shots. The Atlanta forward explained that this is by design.
“I’m taking more outside shots to free up everybody else,” he said. “If I knock down some shots and if I help out on defense and with rebounding, I think I’ll be able to make the team.”
Millsap was all smiles after practice. He talked to everyone who approached him for an interview. He wasn’t supposed here but somehow he made it and the opportunity was all he could ask for.
His brother Elijah was on the other end of the situation earlier this year. He thought he was heading back to the Philippines for another tour of duty with the team formerly known as the Petron Blaze Boosters.
Most of the team’s fans thought the same, too. The energetic and talented import helped them make the finals of the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup although they lost to the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.
The San Miguel Beermen, however, decided to avail of the services of former NBA player Reggie Williams but this time they were booted out by the same team in the semifinals.
“Elijah thought he was heading back there,” Millsap said in the same exclusive interview with Yahoo Philippines. “Then all of a sudden the team just changed their mind.”
“He told me they ended up worse so that should be a sign that they should have gotten him back.”
Even though the PBA stint didn’t work out for his brother, Millsap still has high hopes for him.
“He’s worked very hard to get where he’s at right now. He’s worked a lot on his attitude, on his personal issues, and his basketball,” Millsap said. “I hope he gets the chance to showcase his talent in the NBA like how I got my chance here.”
