NBA

David West’s pissed-off reaction to EuroLeague player saying ‘NBA is checkers and Europe is chess’

Published by
Jesse Cinquini

EuroLeague player Kyle Hines recently said that the “NBA is checkers and Europe is chess.” Former NBA power forward David West took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and gave a pissed-off reaction to Hines’ statement.

West was selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft after a four-season stint playing college basketball at Xavier University. He averaged 11-plus points and nine-plus rebounds in each of his four seasons as a Musketeer.

The 43-year-old played for four teams — the New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs — across his 15 seasons in the NBA. Most recently, he averaged 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 73 appearances with the Warriors during the 2017-18 regular season (zero starts).

West is best known for his time as a member of the Pelicans, though. He spent eight seasons of his NBA career with the franchise and averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 530 total regular-season games played (438 starts).

Arguably the best season of West’s career in New Orleans came during the 2007-08 season. He averaged 20.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a career-high 1.3 blocks per game during the regular season.

Those numbers were good enough for West to earn an All-Star nod.

West’s contributions on both ends of the floor translated into a whole lot of success for the 2007-08 iteration of the Pelicans. They finished the regular season with an excellent 56-26 record, tied with the Spurs for the second-best record in the Western Conference.

Also, the 2007-08 iteration of the Pelicans advanced all the way to the Western Conference semifinals, where they lost to Tim Duncan and the Spurs in seven games. West averaged 20.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists during the seven-game series. He also shot the ball with solid accuracy from the field, seeing as he converted 45.2 percent of his field-goal attempts.

It’s understandable as to why West reacted to Hines’ comment in a pissed-off manner. After all, the NBA houses the best basketball players in the world, and West knows firsthand how talented NBA players are.

Jesse Cinquini

Jesse is an aspiring sports journalist that has previously worked as a staff writer at SB Nation’s CelticsBlog and The Knicks Wall.

Published by
Jesse Cinquini

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

9 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

2 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

4 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

6 days ago