Rumors

For Greivis Vasquez, back in D.C., the Maryland memories are vibrant Former Terrapins star will provide color commentary on Spanish broadcasts of select Wizards games this season.

Washington Post

Who are your Top 5 all-time players? Greivis Vasquez: Well, obviously, the first man is Michael Jordan. I grew up watching him, although I was really young. The reason I like Jordan is that he did it both on and off the floor. But he’s a different breed. His mindset was different. He didn’t want to be like anyone else, not even his peers. If you really understand who MJ was as a player, you can see his competitiveness and how far ahead he was from the rest. There were good players, and there were great players, but at that moment, he was the super great player. The second man, my idol, my hero, and someone who means everything to me, is Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us physically, but his spirit lives on. The Mamba Mentality is a lifestyle. Kobe’s approach, education, and willpower were extraordinary. He’s the definition of a winner. For me, Kobe is even more significant than Michael in terms of lifestyle. He was a different guy. He spoke three or four different languages and even spoke to me in Spanish a few times. Coming from Caracas, Venezuela, and playing against your hero – money can’t buy that. I don’t take that for granted.

HoopsHype

What was more important to you: winning or money? Greivis Vasquez: I’ve always valued winning. If I had to take a pay cut to win championships, I would do that because I know it will benefit me in the long run. People remember winners more than those who just had a big contract without winning. Look at Scottie Pippen. He was underpaid, but people still talk about him because he was a winner.

HoopsHype

Greivis Vasquez: In the NBA, 90 percent of players are role players. There’s only one LeBron James, one Steph Curry, and a few other superstars. The rest fulfill specific roles. Young players coming into the league shouldn’t focus on being the star, but on what they can bring to the team that’s different from the stars. My career was about fulfilling a role. I never had the chance to play for a team like Golden State, where a role player like Shaun Livingston thrived. But we were similar players, able to run a team. If I had been in the same position as him, I believe I could have done the same thing. You have to understand that most players in the NBA are there to complement the stars, not be the stars themselves.

HoopsHype

Greivis Vasquez: Montrose changed my life for the better. I graduated high school with Kevin Durant, one of my great friends. It was a top basketball program, led by Hall of Fame high school coach Stu Vetter. David Atkins, who coached there, went on to coach Maryland’s women’s team and made the jump to the NBA as a great player development coach. So, Montrose was pivotal in shaping my basketball career.

HoopsHype

Vasquez enjoyed a successful NBA career, the high point coming when he averaged 13.9 points and nine assists for New Orleans in 2012-2013. But a major ankle injury suffered during the 2015-2016 season has sidelined him since. He hasn't given up hope on playing again. "You know, I'm not healthy-healthy yet, but I'm getting there," he said. "I want to play again. Even if it's not in the NBA, I want to play again."

247Sports

Vasquez believes the NBA should be the first major American sports league to return from the coronavirus-prompted shutdown. "We're missing the game of basketball. I want to see LeBron. I want to see the best players out there. Even if I'm able to watch it on TV. It's not gonna be the same. You're gonna have to figure out ways to motivate yourself and perform [without fans]. But imagine winning a championship. I heard Shaq was saying, 'Everyone pack it up and go home, we'll see you guys next year,'" he said. "Whatever it is, it's gonna be a tough decision for the NBA. But at the end of the day, I'm telling you, whatever league comes out and starts playing right now, everyone at home is gonna watch because there's nothing else to do. So we're missing basketball. Let's be the first league to get back to work.”

247Sports

Vasquez was asked about his former high school teammate, Kevin Durant, and his propensity for replying to trolls on Twitter and arguing with his detractors. "He was always emotional. He's a human being. Sometimes he'll react about things on Twitter just because people go at him. I mean, it's still his life. There's one thing you can't knock on KD: his work ethic. He got everything he got, his millions, his success in the NBA, his championship, because he earned it. He earned it. And when you earn it, you got the right to do more things that people who don't earn what they dream about," he said.

247Sports

Vásquez played on the injured ankle for some time before the 2015 surgery despite ample discomfort. The bone structure remains unstable. Forget playing basketball. Vásquez, 32, says he cannot walk, jog or run correctly. “It’s pretty bad,” Vásquez said. “I’m not out of the league because of my talent. I’m out of the league because of an injury. It’s pretty depressing, but it’s something I have to face. It’s something I have to take.”

The Athletic

The loss of Jeremy Lin and the departure of Greivis Vasquez pushed the development of Isaiah Whitehead more than anybody expected. He started 26 games —a third of the season— and gained valuable experience at the point. One year later, the Nets are logjammed at the guard position with eight players fighting for minutes. Kenny Atkinson addressed this at Tuesday’s press conference. “He’s gotta compete. He’s gotta compete for minutes, compete for a job,” Atkinson said.

NetsDaily

In a recent interview with Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan, former Terps guard Greivis Vasquez said of possibly playing for Washington: "That's the plan." Vasquez is currently a free agent. “Hopefully they’re interested, obviously they want to see me healthy," he said. "I’m still in the process of rehabbing, but that would be a great thing for my career, just play the next three or four years in D.C. and help that team, because I know I can help any team, but D.C. is a special city for me. I could go back to a city that’s done so much for me in my college career, so we’ll see what happens.”

CSNMidAtlantic

Neil Dalal: Greivis Vasquez on potentially playing for the #Wizards: "That's the plan." Says playing "next 3 to 4 years in DC" would be a "great thing."

Twitter

Josh Lewenberg: Greivis on former teammate Giannis: "He not only loves the game, his work ethic is unbelievable... This kid works hard... He's a fighter"

Twitter

Glushon Sports Management has signed free-agent NBA guard Greivis Vásquez and Los Angeles Lakers guard David Nwaba. Jason Glushon is representing the players. Vásquez was formerly represented by Octagon, and Nwaba was previously without representation.

Sports Business Daily