On August 27, Beijing time, Dudley, who has become a lone ranger assistant teacher, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times by telephone and exposed the inside story of leaving the Lakers. The 36-year-old admitted he still wanted to stay, and James and Brow also hoped he would stay, but they failed to convince management. Dudley confessed that he thought Pelinka had done something wrong.
Dudley played just 81 minutes last season, and in the past two seasons, he's only scored 74 points in total, but the Los Angeles Times believes Dudley's role isn't measurable by those time and scores. The text reads: "He rarely appears, but you can see his passion every day. He was the last man on the bench, but the most powerful voice in the dressing room. How much do the Lakers think Dudley is worth? Maybe they don't think it's a lot. ”
"I thought I'd be back to the Lakers," Dudley said in an interview, "it's crazy." Obviously, both LeBron (James) and AD (Thick Brow) wanted to keep me, but we just couldn't convince them (management). ”
In order to stay with the Lakers, Dudley was even willing to accept an unsecured contract. But in the end, Dudley still failed to do so, and he announced his retirement and joined the Coaching Staff of the Lone Rangers, where there was Kidd who admired him.
"Nobody owes me anything, both Rob (Pelinka) and Cote (Rambis) are honest and candid. I have great respect and gratitude for them and for Jenny (Bath), and I am forever grateful for the opportunity they have given me. "But I still want to go back to the Lakers, and I do think I can help the team, especially a team with so many new players, but I can understand that they want to make the lineup a little younger." ”
Dudley said he had spoken to Pelinka and Rambis and thanked them, but did not think their decision was the right one. "They value young people more than the leadership in the dressing room, and I respect your approach, but I think you're doing it wrong."
In Dudley's view, he has a lot of identities. Not only is he present in the locker room, he is also a "mentor", a "relationship expert", an "intermediary" who unites everyone. "Even if the fans don't know, those players, coaches, equip crews, they know," Dudley said, "and they understand the value of what I'm doing." "Do you think the Lakers in the new season will miss Dudley? Welcome to leave a message to express your opinion.