Ponitka receives criticism from Marcin Gortat: 'He's always been an individualist' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP Scanpix - BNS Credit AFP Scanpix - BNS

Yesterday Zenit Saint Petersburg officially announced the return of 5 players to Russia, including Mateusz Ponitka, Jordan Loyd, Billy Baron, Tyson Carter, and Alex Poythress.

Points this season

46%74,0Points made:74,0Accuracy:45,9%Place in standings:13Record max:90Record min:58Best scorer:Jordan LoydTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The Polish basketball legend and long-time NBA player Marcin Gortat minced no words regarding his countryman Ponitka's decision to come back to the Saint Petersburg club.

"Mateusz Ponitka has always been an individualist. He always walked his paths. Sometimes it's good, sometimes – bad. He made the decisions one would expect of him... He only thought of 'himself'. There is no major shock or surprise for me in this situation. Everyone has the right to do so.

It is sad that he is the captain of our team (Polish NT). It seems to me that many people expected a different decision. You have to remember that the captain's armband was given to him by the president. Now he collects double criticism for fulfilling such a role.

All these aspects aside, the question is different. Where is nature? Human emotions? Unity? Support? Let's also wait for his statement, if there hasn't been one yet," Gortat wrote on his Twitter account.

Due to the war in Ukraine, Zenit foreigners were allowed to leave the country. All of them took advantage of it, including the Lithuanian duo of Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Arturas Gudaitis.

In total five Americans and Mateusz Ponitka returned to Russia.

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