Controversy brewed during the Orlando Magic's 120-111 loss to the Utah
Jazz on Thursday night when power forward Rashard Lewis said he
declined to go back in the game during the second quarter.
Coach Stan Van Gundy was upset and said he had never had a player overrule him.
``(Lewis) didn't want to go back in. I wanted to put him back in with six minutes to go in the second quarter and he didn't want to go back in," Van Gundy said after the Magic (17-5) had their six-game winning streak broken. "He said it was because he had two fouls, and so if you have a guy who doesn't want to play, I'm not going to get in an argument and put him back in if he doesn't want to play at that time.
Coach Stan Van Gundy was upset and said he had never had a player overrule him.
``(Lewis) didn't want to go back in. I wanted to put him back in with six minutes to go in the second quarter and he didn't want to go back in," Van Gundy said after the Magic (17-5) had their six-game winning streak broken. "He said it was because he had two fouls, and so if you have a guy who doesn't want to play, I'm not going to get in an argument and put him back in if he doesn't want to play at that time.
I can understand a player saying to his coach - "Are you sure? So-and-so is playing really well." But to outright refuse to enter a game is baffling to me.
Lewis' comment shows he really doesn't get it.
"(Van Gundy) wasn't pissed at the time," said Lewis of declining to
report in at Van Gundy's request. "But he was pissed when they started
making a run. You got to point the finger at something if that's what
you got to point it at. Hey, I don't give a damn."
You're right Rashard, you don't give a damn and it shows.
