Matt Steinmetz is the Comcast sideline reporter and insider/analyst on Golden State Warriors telecasts. Previously, he covered Golden State for nine seasons as a traveling beat writer for the Contra Costa Times.

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When it comes to NBA players signing in Europe, Brian Shaw has been there, done that

1 comment

July 29, 7:45 PM

by Matt Steinmetz, Golden State Warriors Examiner

Brian Shaw: Old-school Europe

Josh Childress signed a three-year contract with Olympiakos in Greece; Nenad Krstic is leaving the New Jersey Nets to play for Triumph Moscow. The Warriors’ Andris Biedrins was wooed by European teams before re-signing. Delonte West is supposedly drawing interest, and Michael Finley said he turned down an overseas offer.

Is this the start of a trend? Well, it’s not the start of anything.

Twenty years ago Oakland-native and current assistant coach for the Lakers Brian Shaw left the Boston Celtics after his rookie season to play for Il Messaggero (now Virtus Roma) in Italy. At the time it was virtually unheard of for an NBA player _ let alone a starter on a playoff team _ to head overseas. Danny Ferry also played in Europe that season because he didn’t want to play for the L.A. Clippers coming out of Duke.

Not only did Shaw excel in Italy, he wanted to stay there and play a second year. Maybe more. But the Celtics sued Shaw, and forced him to return to Boston for the 1990-91 season.

If anyone knows about the European basketball experience, it would be Shaw. Here’s what he had to say:

His initial reaction when he heard Josh Childress had signed with Olympiakos in Greece:

B.S.: "I thought the Atlanta organization was probably shocked. I’m sure that wasn’t something they anticipated happening. Probably came out of the blue and really surprised them."

On the possibility of NBA players signing overseas becoming a trend:

B.S.: "If the money is available and it’s competitive _ and especially at this time when the dollar is so weak internationally _ it’s a definite possibility more players will go. When you have competition it’s great. From a player’s standpoint, it’s good because it’s given (NBA) owners more competition in bidding for the services of players. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. For years there wasn’t any competition so the owners had the ultimate leverage because there wasn’t anyone going against them for players."

Advice to players going over:

B.S.: "You have to be open to the fact that you’re going to experience something totally different and foreign in terms of driving, going to the grocery store, products you’re used to seeing. Those things are different. But the bottom line is it’s basketball. And basketball is an American game and basketball is basketball regardless of where you play it. You’re going to be playing less games than on an NBA schedule so economically if you’re in a city you’re comfortable in and the money is comparable or better than it makes sense."

Topics: NBA , Andris Biedrins , Brian Shaw , Europe , Atlanta Hawks , Boston Celtics , Duke , Michael Finley , Virtus Roma , Delonte West , New Jersey Nets , Italy , Josh Childress , Nenad Krstic , Olympiakos , Danny Ferry , Los Angeles Clippers

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It would be a head-scratcher if Warriors extend Stephen Jackson's contract

13 comments

October 13, 9:46 AM

The Warriors’ season-opener is on Oct. 29, against the New Orleans Hornets, and Stephen Jackson will likely have an extension by then.Janny Hu's Q&A with Warriors president Robert Rowell backed up a lot of what Jackson said a couple of... Read More
Topics: Stephen Jackson , Chris Mullin , Baron Davis , robert rowell , Corey Maggette

Here's one guy who thinks Patrick O'Bryant is going to prove Don Nelson wrong. No, not me

5 comments

October 12, 1:16 PM

Interesting take by Peter Vecsey of the New York Post on former Warrior center Patrick O'Bryant.Link here: http://tinyurl.com/3vl8y5Vecsey says Don Nelson blew it with O'Bryant, that the kid has talent and will likely prove it this season in Boston.I'm... Read More
Topics: Patrick O'Bryant , New York Post , Peter Vecsey

Monta Ellis' suspension further distances Warriors' president Rowell from Mullin

2 comments

October 11, 10:31 PM

Warriors president Robert Rowell sat down with the media on Saturday night and talked about Monta Ellis’ 30-game suspension and the futures of vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin and coach Don Nelson.There’s just no way I... Read More
Topics: Chris Mullin , Don Nelson , robert rowell , Monta Ellis , Tim Kawakami

Warriors suspend Monta Ellis for 30 games _ penalty worth nearly $3 million

1 comment

October 11, 1:57 PM

The Warriors announced on Saturday that they have suspended guard Monta Ellis for 30 games for violating terms of his contract.Ellis injured his left ankle when he reportedly was involved in a moped accident just a month after signing a six-year $66... Read More
Topics: Monta Ellis

Warriors statement regarding Monta Ellis' 30-game suspension

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October 11, 1:55 PM

WARRIORS SUSPEND GUARD MONTA ELLIS Oakland, Calif. _ The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard Monta Ellis for 30 games for violating Paragrpah 12 of the Uniform Player Contract, it was announced today by president Robert Rowell.The suspension... Read More
Topics: robert rowell , Monta Ellis

The choice is yours: Who do you want to start at point guard this season for Warriors?

4 comments

October 11, 12:22 PM

The closer it gets to opening night, the more glaring the Warriors' point guard issue becomes.For the past three-and-half seasons, Baron Davis ran the Warriors. He scored a lot, assisted a lot and had the ball a lot.I think the Warriors are really going... Read More
Topics: Baron Davis , Marcus Williams , C.J. Watson

Marcus Williams isn't exactly seizing the opportunity at point guard for the Warriors

5 comments

October 10, 4:25 PM

A little bit of this and that from Warriors practice on Friday♦ Warriors coach Don Nelson has made it clear that the point guard position is still up for grabs, which isn't good news for Marcus Williams any way you cut it.Williams, who has played... Read More
Topics: Don Nelson , Corey Maggette , Marcus Williams , C.J. Watson , DeMarcus Nelson , Dan Dickau

In defense of Scottie Pippen, he must be talked about when discussing NBA greats

3 comments

October 9, 10:00 AM

No reason for the timing of this. Was just giving it some thought ...As I was making my top 10 players of all-time list, I thought of lots of names who didn’t quite make the cut: Moses Malone, Bob Pettit, Elvin Hayes, Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon.Those... Read More
Topics: Julius Erving , Michael Jordan , Scottie Pippen

Don Nelson needs to have a career year if the Warriors are to have success in 2008-09

1 comment

October 8, 7:54 AM

For the Warriors to make the playoffs in 2008-09, coach Don Nelson is going to have to have one of the greatest coaching years of his NBA life.That's what I wrote in the San Francisco Examiner.And I believe it.The Warriors are without a star... Read More
Topics: Don Nelson