Marcin Gortat claims to be on normal terms with Robin Lopez – NBA Update
After last season’s friction between Phoenix Suns centres Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez, things seem to be on a smooth plane now, according to Gortat. Gortat and Lopez both play at the centre position and have been competing for
the spot since Marcin moved to the Phoenix Suns late last year.
It took as much as the first practice to heat things up between the two. It all started in the middle of last season, when Gortat came back to the Suns after spending some time with the Orlando Magic. Gortat had been acting out
a filling role as the Magic already had the best centre in the league; Dwight Howard.
When Gortat arrived for his first training session with the Phoenix Suns, he approached Robin Lopez and inquired whether there will be a video screening before practice or were they just going to shoot the ball. Lopez allegedly
misguided Gortat by simply stating that he did not know.
Well, there was a video conference and as soon as it ended, Gortat got yelled at by the training staff who told him that there is always a screening before the game and he should have known that.
The fact that Lopez sent Marcin to the wrong place, did not go down very well with the Polish International, who immediately made an impact in the league and took over Lopez’s otherwise established centre position. Not only did
he take over Robin’s job, he told him exactly how things were.
“You had your chance, I took it.” said the 6ft 11 inch Poland International.
However, Marcin recently came out and revealed that things were perfectly normal between the two and they still managed a healthy relationship. He tried to make it clear that whatever happened did not affect either of the players.
“There’s no argument between me and him,” Gortat said, “The stuff that came out with what I said at the camp was just the first contact with Robin. I don’t think there was any problem between me and him. Whatever happened didn’t
have any impact on me or on him.
Gortat also went on to explain that both will be gunning for that centre position next time round and it will all be as part of a healthy competition; something which will help the team win more games.
“We’re still talking. We’re still having the same conversation since Day 1. I don’t think there’s any problem in the team. I believe we’re going to come back next year strong and hopefully we’re going to fight for the starting
job, me and him. It’s going to be good for the team, hopefully. If he’s going to win, then I’m going to try to be a strong player coming off the bench or opposite.”
Whatever the case, it has certainly shaped up as another one of those rivalries which are always kept under the blanket of healthy competition. As it currently stands, the end of the lockout might see Lopez get traded, as the Suns
already have two concrete centres and other gaps to fill up.
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