Former NBA big man Daniel Theis made headlines in February when he signed with AS Monaco, opting against joining Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos.
According to Eurohoops.net, Theis still had the option to remain in the NBA after being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder – but decided his best move was to return to Europe.
“Before coming to Europe, I had an offer from the Knicks,” he told Euro Insiders. “Mitchell Robinson was coming back from injury. I spoke with (Tom) Thibodeau and he told me I would be insurance for them if Robinson couldn’t play. I thought, if I stay until the end of the season and don’t play, what chances will I have in the summer? So I said, ‘I’m going to Europe. If I play well, I’ll have better chances.’”
That decision wasn’t just about basketball – it was also about quality of life.
Theis admitted that the personal outreach from Monaco’s coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, had a big influence on him: “Maybe I wouldn’t have come to Europe if (Monaco coach Vassilis) Spanoulis hadn’t called me. I didn’t just look at the money, but the school, the life, everything.”
Over the course of his NBA career, Theis suited up for six different franchises. That constant movement, he said, was wearing him down.
“Trades in the NBA are kind of like, ‘Thank you, but you have to go – we traded you to Chicago.’ Then you pass medicals, go back for two days to where you were to get your things and move. It’s tough,” he explained.
Theis has learned firsthand that trades are often dictated by business rather than personal performance.
“After some years, you see the business side of the league. Sometimes it’s not that your team doesn’t want you, but another team wants you more. Or sometimes you’re part of a trade because your contract fits better somewhere else. It’s like Panini stickers – you take two, I take one. When you have a family, it’s not easy.”
International Notes: Theis, EuroBasket Favorites, Doncic, Cancar, Nebo https://t.co/OONMupQAxK pic.twitter.com/0m7fbzzNdS
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