Former NBA star Jeff Teague shared a story about his contract renewal with the Atlanta Hawks on a podcast. The experience was not only full of twists and turns, but also revealed the business logic behind professional basketball.
Contract renewal turmoil: from being snubbed to a dramatic reversal
An unhappy start
Jeff Teague recalls his contract renewal with the Atlanta Hawks as an incredibly trying experience. He was deeply disappointed by the attitude of the then-Hawks general manager Danny Ferry. Despite his outstanding performance in the 2012-2013 season (14.6 points and 7.2 assists per game), Ferry criticized him relentlessly during the contract renewal negotiations.
“Ferry told me directly, ‘If you want a big salary, go to another team. We’re not going to extend your contract,’” Thigpen said. ‘The next day at practice, he even went into the video room and yelled at me in front of everyone, saying that my defense was terrible and that I wasn’t performing.”
Thigpen was chilled by this attitude and realized that his chances of staying with the Hawks were slim. So he decided to look for opportunities elsewhere.
The Bucks’ olive branch
Soon after, the Milwaukee Bucks threw out the olive branch to Teague, offering a four-year, $32 million contract. Teague did not hesitate to sign the offer and immediately called Ferry to express his determination not to play for the Hawks anymore.
“I told him, ‘I hate everything about you, the way you talk. I don’t want to play for you anymore, I don’t want to be on your team. Please don’t match this contract, you and I are just not going to work together,’” Thigpen recalled.
Ferry’s response seemed calm: ‘Okay, no problem.’ Thigpen thought he could finally get rid of the Eagles and start a new career.
Dramatic reversal
However, things took a turn that Teague did not expect. Just as he was flying with his family to Milwaukee to start looking at new homes, Ferry called and told him with a laugh, “These are the rules of the NBA. You did a great job negotiating. See you back in Atlanta next week…we matched the contract. Bye-bye.” The phone then hung up.
Teague returned to Atlanta helplessly and put on the Hawks jersey again. “That moment really made me angry and made me understand the commercial nature of the NBA,” he said.
The hard work behind the numbers
In the 2012-2013 season, Teague’s performance undoubtedly proved his worth:
- Average points per game: 14.6
- Assists: 7.2
- Field goal percentage: 45.1%
- 3-point field goal percentage: 35.9%
- Free throw percentage: 88.1%
These statistics show that Teague is a well-rounded and efficient player, but during the contract renewal negotiations, the Hawks were only willing to offer a contract worth 4.5 million US dollars. It wasn’t until the Bucks made a higher offer that the Hawks chose to match it, and Teague was finally retained.
Ferry’s departure and Thigpen’s relief
Although Thigpen was unhappy about the renewal dispute, he was relieved when Ferry was forced to step down due to his involvement in a scandal. Ferry’s departure spared Thigpen from having to deal with the general manager he disliked, and it also brought a new turn of events in his career with the Hawks.
Summary: The commercial nature of the NBA
Through this experience, Thigpen gained a deep understanding of the logic of the NBA as a commercial league. No matter how hard they work or how well they perform on the court, players are still treated as a commodity, repeatedly weighed up and bargained over in the interests of the balance sheet.
“In this league, you have to learn to accept these realities,” said Teague. ‘Although the process is difficult, it has also made me stronger.’
This story not only shows Teague’s professional resilience, but also the complexity and cruelty behind professional sports.
