ORLANDO -- Magic All-Star forward Rashard Lewis was anything but contrite Monday when his team gathered the day before training camp begins.Lewis will open the regular season serving his 10-game suspension for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug Agreement last spring. He tested positive for a banned substance (commonly known as DHEA) that was found in an over-the-counter supplement he was taking.
"I still feel like I did nothing wrong,'' he said. "I've received more support than negative feedback. It's only 10 games in an 82-game season. It's not going to make or break us. When Game 11 comes, I'll be ready to go.''
The Magic will open camp today with everyone healthy, but it might not seem that way when they start putting players together on the floor.
Lewis becomes an early quandary for a team with championship aspirations.
He is as healthy as ever -- primed for another All-Star season -- but how much do you prepare him with the starters if he can't play the first 10 games? He is a starter who can't start, which may change much of what the Magic do during the exhibition schedule.
The Magic, despite reaching the NBA Finals last spring, added four new veterans to the rotation -- Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams -- and a lot of what they do in the first 10 games will change when Lewis returns.
"I'm still struggling with that,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday. "We certainly want Rashard getting his time on the floor early, but at the same time we have to get ready for those first 10 games without him. I don't have the answer yet. It's sort of a strange situation we're facing.''
The Magic will have the deepest team in their history, yet their delicate chemistry that was so vital in their rise last season may change significantly with key new additions and the unavailability of Lewis early.
The Magic had hoped that the addition of Bass at power forward, and the departure of Hedo Turkoglu, would allow Lewis to spend more time at small forward this season. When he plays power forward, the Magic likely will use Mickael Pietrus or Barnes at small forward.
His absence in those first 10 games will allow Van Gundy to get a closer look at other players, but it also will mean a major adjustment after those first 10.
"It (his absence) isn't as bad as the gloom and doom that some people are painting,'' said Magic general manager Otis Smith. "The good could outweigh the bad. He still has 72 games, and he's donating a lot of money ($1.2 million as part of his 10-game suspension) to charity.''Smith also said that he thinks the league needs to do a better job educating players about what supplements they can or can't take during the season.
"I think the league knows I made an honest mistake,'' Lewis said. "They worked with me closely on this. It just lets you know that you can't go to a Walgreens Drug Store and pick up vitamins if you don't know what's in them. I don't take anything now except water. I'm scared to even take Advil.''
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
he must only read orlando newspapers.
Another "I didn't know what was in it" BS excuse.
He should probably spend those 10 games working on his free throws.
No, better yet don't.
LAKERS 2008-09 NBA CHAMPION...
another "better living through chemistry" player who looks for the illicit advantage and sees nothing wrong with this approach
Lewis and Bass should not normally play power forward, they have Gortat and Anderson for that. Lewis lacks weight, Bass lacks height. Barnes is a guard/forward swingman, Pietrus is a wing guard. The Magic aren`t just trying to be pretty but lose. The got to the Championship round last year, they should try to get back there. Small ball won`t get them there. As for Lewis, 10 games, he did nothing illegal. The supplement is legal without a prescription, it is allowed by baseball because it is legal. In that sense, he did nothing wrong. But I`m glad the nba is trying to cut down on various types of cheating. Let`s hope the refs call hooking with the free arm and traveling for a change this year. The nba would have to restart rehiring those small guards it has been waiving. Bet it won`t happen. They don`t want the game THAT honest. Still, I`m glad the nba is trying to get some questionable supplements banned, and hope the politicians continue to listen to both sides of the arguement, not just the drug conmpanies. America seems pill happy, and it seems to me, prescription and over the counter pills not just illegal pills, whether worthwhile or not, are grotesquely overrated. Unless the Magic can acquire a center worth starting, allowing Howard to move back to power forward again, they should start Gortat at tall, finesse forward, and Bass at short forward, exercises sacrificing weight for quickness, working at developing his wing skills on both ends of the court. The Magic can go off the bench with smaller lineups if need be those first 10 games, but they have to focus from the start of training camp on playing championship style, big team style, ball.
Rashard is a class act and I believe he is telling the truth He is a profesional trying to keep his body and mind in the best shape possible
Of course its "nothing" to any of the drugies that have to juice up to be able to compete. Sounds like he learned his lesson.
I will never understand ANY athlete taking ANY drug, including over the counter drugs WITHOUT ensuring there is no BANNED substance in them!
see,s pretty simple to me.
Well, I think that Rashard Lewis is an awesome person. I honestly think that what happened was a mistake, and I think that I have the right to say that seeing as how I've known him all of my life (we're related). He's the sweetest person, and I know he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his career. Not to mention that he wasn't raised that way. For all of the people who are like, "spare me the I didn't know bull..." put yourself in his shoes. He had a daughter that was ill and was stressed out. He didn't turn to booze or drugs or even steroids. He took an over the counter supplement! I would have thought the same thing he did...which is: it must belegal if it's over the counter. We all make mistakes. Why do people hold famous people to a higher standard than the average person? He's a regular person like everyone else (he just happens to have a job he loves and makes a fantastic living). Am I biased, yes; but it's not as though he went to a doctor or trainer and asked for illegal substances, it's not as though he went to a drug dealer or anything. He made a simple mistake that I am sure he will correct and not repeat again. Please remember that he's human like everyone else and makes mistakes...remember that the next time you pass judgement or try to crucify him or anyone else.
I heard a Rumor that he was actually suspended for smoking crack
DHEA is a steroid technically. DHEA is totally legal, and studies suggest it has no effect on muscle building anyway. Cholesterol is also a steriod, should our athletes not be able to eat steak or eggs?