By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Houston Rockets retained the NBA rights of Sergio Llull for over ten years. Despite showing interest and several bids in various forms, they were unable to convince the Spanish combo guard to move his talents to the league based in North America.
During an appearance on TIMEOUT, a podcast of the Spanish Basketball Federation, FEB, Llull revealed one approach in 2015, including former Rocket James Harden, nearly completing a deal.
“I was on a very good year, and we were on a winning streak. I was close to leaving. They came and we went to dinner, and at the same dinner, they put me on the phone with James Harden. I left that dinner thinking, “I’m out’. I left almost convinced,” he recalled, “We told Madrid. Florentino [Perez] called me, and they gave me a six-year contract with an improved salary, although far from what they were offering me in the NBA. In the end, you weigh everything, and my scale leaned towards staying.”
“I don’t regret it at all,” he added, “It was my decision and it’s the right one because it’s mine.”
Back in 2009, the Menorca native was drafted by the Denver Nuggets. Immediately after being selected with the 34th overall pick, his connection with the Rockets was established, with the Texas franchise buying his NBA rights. Forward to 2020, those rights were traded to the New York Knicks.
His career has focused solely on Los Blancos since he arrived in 2007.