Jaycee Carroll criticizes Real Madrid over Pablo Laso's exit / News - Basketnews.com

Jaycee Carroll thinks Pablo Laso himself should have decided his future in Real Madrid. The player chose to be with his family in the US even though the club wanted him to play one more season last year.

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Jaycee Carroll's exit from Real Madrid was strange. Although he didn't play last season, he was still being included in the team's roster. The player has now revealed the backstory behind it.

2-pointers this season

56%20,7Points made:20,7Accuracy:56,4%Place in standings:5Record max:31Record min:14Most made 2FGs:Walter TavaresTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"Talking with my family and seeing the life that we were beginning to have in the United States, I was not prepared to return in September," Carroll explained in an interview with MARCA. "During the pandemic years, I played a season and a half here, and I was alone with my oldest daughter. I didn't want to have that kind of life."

"I have a family and I wanted to be with them. I didn't see the possibility of all of us coming [here]," the player said. "They had already become very involved in the United States, [they were] with their grandparents, with their cousins. My wife was chasing some dreams that she had put aside to stay by my side and be with me."

Even though the decision was already made, Carroll was still on the team's roster, at least in the first part of the season.

"We talked that maybe I could return in December. That's why my photos were there," he explained. "In January, I decided that it was all over, that I'm not going to play anymore. I've come this far, I'm not coming back."

Carroll's exit was unusual but it was nowhere near as unusual as the exit of head coach Pablo Laso. The specialist was dismissed from the club, with the official motivation being the health risks Laso would face coaching the club.

Notably, the coach had suffered a hear attack before the Liga Endesa final series against FC Barcelona, which forced him to be sidelined during the last part of the competition which was won by his club.

Jaycee Carroll thinks that the dismissal was unfair.

"I was 38 years old, I almost played," Carroll compared his situation to Laso's. "It is only my opinion but he had won so much that he had earned the opportunity to choose whether he wanted to continue or not. He is an adult who can choose for himself, with his family, and with his doctor. I think he should have decided [his fate in the club]. It didn't happen."

After the interview came out, Laso thanked Carroll for his support on Twitter, tweeting a photo of them both. "A thousand battles... and only two remain. Thank you," he wrote.

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.