Shabazz Napier responds to Messina's claims: 'Stop using me as the reason' / News - Basketnews.com

Shabazz Napier fired back at Ettore Messina: "Stop lying to your fans to fix your trouble ways."

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix, D. Lukšta Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix, D. Lukšta

Ettore Messina gave an interview to the Italian media outlet Il Foglio, which made waves in the European basketball community.

Shabazz Napier

MIN:22.9PTS:12.43 (44%)REB:1.86As:3ST:1.71BL:0TO:2.86GM:7ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Firstly, he labeled the signing of Kevin Pangos as a mistake. Messina then turned his attention to former EA7 Emporio Armani Milan guard Shabazz Napier.

Messina claimed that the current Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade player expressed a desire to return to Milan, a team he had left due to allegedly high salary demands.

"Last season, with Shabazz Napier, we fixed the situation during the ongoing season and won the Italian League. But this summer, after he [Napier] said that he wanted to stay, he increased his requests even more; we had already offered him the triple of what he was making. We couldn't do more than that, and now he's sending texts to his friends saying that he'd love to come back," Messina said.

In response to Messina's comments, Napier took to his Instagram story to address the situation. He has acknowledged the challenges both he and Messina's team are facing but urged Messina to refrain from using him as a scapegoat.

"Ok, I get it. Your team didn't start the way you would like, and neither have I, but just stop using me as the reason," the player underlined. "I'm dealing with my own difficulties at the moment as a player, but I'm happy I'm with Red Star, and I will be better for them. 2 statements about a player who's no longer a part of the team. Just let it go.

"Stop lying to your fans to fix your trouble ways," Napier added.

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