Everyone remember Larry Sanders? The former 15th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks?
Well for those who do not know, allow me to quickly summarize the story about him:
The Bucks drafted the raw athletic Sanders from VCU in hopes to tap his potential as a great shot-blocker and overall defensive center. After a couple of bumps in the road it was looking like the Bucks found a steal in Sanders, finishing 3rd in the Most Improved Player of the Year award in 2013. He then signed a huge $44 million contract extension, but ultimately chose to walk away from the game and eventually was bought out by Milwaukee.
Sanders decided to walk away because he was dealing with depression and anxiety. He posted an article on the Player’s Tribute along with a video explaining his decision. He also recently told The Vertical (of Yahoo Sports) that he would like to return to the NBA.
“I feel highly valuable on any team. There aren’t a lot of people who can bring my game to a team. I still play basketball all the time, staying in shape. I will need to make sure the situation is right for me.”
Today, Sanders resides in Los Angeles, working on his own music and running a management company for artists. The Milwaukee Bucks are still paying him $1.9 million per season until 2022.
I could see Larry Sanders making a return to the league in the near future, and I can see teams interested in his services. It is not everyday that you see a very athletic 6′ 11″ shot-blocking center. The questions regarding a possible comeback: is Sanders in basketball shape and will teams be willing to roll the dice with his checkered past?
