Such a question is currently bothering many domestic sports fans. For many years, we have been able to be proud of at least two Latvians playing stably in the strongest basketball league on the planet – Dāva Bertāns and Kristaps Porzingis, however, there is a risk that the next, or 2024/25. 2015 season will be the first since 2015/16 when we will have only one Latvian in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bertans has been playing intermittently this season and it is understandable that the talented and powerful Oklahoma City “Thunder” does not count on the veteran in the long term. Out of 24 possible games this season, he played in only nine, averaging 7.9 minutes and scoring 3.9 points. Since 2019, his minutes on the court have decreased.
As part of Bertan’s existing contract, he will receive 17 million this season, and 5 or 16 next season.
There is a clause in Rujinieša’s contract that he must play 75% or 62 games of the regular championship this season in order to guarantee a contract worth 16 million for the next season. If this number of games is not reached, then in the next season, the last team in which he will play will pay the Latvian five million, but will have the right to terminate his contract early.
Respectively, if Bertans plays at least 62 games, he guarantees a contract for the next season, but if not, then he can remain without a contract. In that case, he should hope that some NBA team will need the Latvian, but if not, most likely, Dāvjas’ return to Europe will be expected.
Davis Bertans. Photo: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports/Scanpix
2023-12-24 15:33:20
#season #Davy #Bertans #NBA
:focal(1430x124:1432x122)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/10/14/4051339-82164428-2560-1440.jpg?fit=300%2C158&ssl=1)
