By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
After Milan’s win over Valencia to interrupt the Italian team’s four-game losing streak in the EuroLeague, Ettore Messina released an interview in which he also revealed Shabazz Napier’s apparent desire to come back, mentioning private messages with former teammates.
The American guard’s response came without delay on his Instagram profile. “Ok, I get it. Your team didn’t start the way you would like and neither have I but just stop using me as the reason. I’m dealing with my own difficulties at the moment as a player but I’m happy I’m with Red Star & I will be better for them. Two statements about a player that’s no longer a part of the team just let it go. Stop lying to your fans to fix your trouble ways”, Shabazz Napier commented in an Instagram story.
Moving to Serbia in the summer of 2023, the UConn alumni has been averaging 12.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with Crvena Zvezda, first under Dusko Ivanovic and then with head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos on board.
AS Monaco superstar Mike James, who had parted ways with Milano in 2019 following a decision by Messina, commented the following on Twitter: “Damn bruh jus threw Pangos in the ocean lol. It’s coo KP he threw me in outer space…”
He later added: “Blaming a PG [Pangos] that’s been all Euroleague and showed high-level performance 5 games into a season and not looking in the mirror and admitting you put together a terribly constructed roster is the highest level of gaslighting I’ve ever seen.”
While talking about Messina with fans, James also wrote: “He’s a dinosaur… he lost it.. need to regroup and look into the mirror and evolve or this is going to continue.”
he a dinosaur brotha… he lost it… need to regroup and look into the mirror and evolve or this is going to continue….
— Mike James (@TheNatural_05) November 11, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague