Antonio Burks: Basketball is business and things like that happen to players

Two days after he was released by Lukoil Academic, Antonio Burks understand the whole situation and the reason why they had to split with the club. That happened in basketball which is business for him and things like that are part of the life for players. Already former Lukoil Academic player talked about the relationship with the management of the club, his teammates and one media publication which doesn't give the truth about him.
 
“Well, I don’t know how to start. As probably everybody around know I got some issues with my former club – Red Star from Serbia, which I fully consider was my agent’s disinformation fault. Then I signed Lukoil Academic. The management of the club helped me a lot back then and did great things for me such as supporting me in all possible ways. I really haven’t seen such support everywhere. Being here I was feeling like I was with a family taking so much care of me but not just a professional basketball team. I really appreciate what some of the club staff’s representatives did for me. I believe it was more than what they should done.

Finally, the problem with me permission to play was not solved and had to go back home. Really liked Bulgaria, Sofia and the team back then and I am still into it. This is one of the reasons I agree to play for them after I set my FIBA problems and signed contract for this year for much more less money I usually play for. This is one of my ways to show them I am really grateful. Stayed almost one year in Memphis, USA and this summer came back. They called me and I arrived in the beginning of September. The team got a new coach who I respect very much and my teammates are very cool therefore I knew this was a really good team to be apart of. We started preparation and there was amazing atmosphere and team spirit here, which sometimes is more important than having good players. I really enjoyed the practices and my teammates. I think Lukoil has a pretty good team and all the rumors and haters’ talks about how we won’t make it in EuroCup are not the real situation. I think the team has good players on every position. We were practicing hard and the things went into the right directions.
 

Like ten days ago I heard for the first time that the management of the club has plans to release me which really surprise me because when the coaching staff is not satisfied by you, you can always feel that. With me there was nothing like that. So I decided to go and talk to them. I question if they got any remarks about my play they answered positive: “We are pleased with what you are showing! You fulfill the requirements and practice hard”. So I kept on doing the things they said they were please with until yesterday when they informed me that I am released by one reason or another.  I took it because I know that basketball is business and things like that happen to players. This time it happens to me. They told me I don’t organize the game the way they see it I accepted because this is part of being professional. But this is my game since I started playing and I have never changed it. I played like that in high school, college, NBA and Red Star and I don’t think I can play different way. Just this is the game that built up my name in USA, but I guess the things here are different. As far as I see they need more shooting PG and not clear playmaker. So, after they told me they don’t like my game and I am not anymore part of the team I said OK, I can’t do anything more no matter I wanted to stay because I like it over here and the team is really nice. We shook hands and I thanked once again the General Manager for what they did for me.
 

It was yesterday. Today I was really disappointed by a media statement that my teammates translated to me which really makes me feel bad. I have never in my life been a troublemaker and had never have problems with discipline. I know what the reputation of black American players is but I cannot accept what the statement was saying. It was ugly, nasty, exaggerated and unprofessional. There was no basketball in it at all and I don’t appreciate it. I heard rumors that Lukoil Academic’s management staff created it in order to give reason to the people why they are releasing me. I don’t believe that and I will never believe it. There is no logic for the same people who helped me a lot last season to do something like that now. It is just a deed of someone who is looking for sensation but it is not the right way. I was in shock of the thing that was written. In USA there is no newspaper that will tolerate such thing. So I am not trying to sound like I am a saint but I just want to make it clearer:
Yeah, I go to clubs. But I don’t go every day and I don’t go the night before official games. Every single athlete in the world goes to clubs or has a way to entertain. Nowhere in a professional contract is it stated that a player cannot go out. We are not monks. If we are we would go to a monastery. Also the pictures are from back in the days not from yesterday. Why the people from the newspaper didn’t act earlier?
 

The publications said Lukoil waited on me one whole year and another four months. How it comes after I arrived in the beginning of September and now is November the 10th? Also I appreciate all the things the company of Lukoil did for me and I am really grateful for the chance they gave me even though I was really out of shape. But I think I fulfilled everything they asked me for and I lost all the kilos in the term they gave me. Regarding this I just want to mention that if somebody from the newspaper tried to make the effort to see my games from college and NBA or just checked my weight in the period they would be able to see that I had the same weight and body structure back then when I was on the top of my career. So calling me with words like not only abuse me but also ruins my reputation that I have been creating for 28-years.
 

As a conclusion I would like to once again state that I really like and respect Lukoil Academic as a club and all the people involved. I appreciate the help of Lukoil last season, and as I told before they have the right to not like my way of playing because this is part of basketball. I hope they will have a good season in Bulgaria and Europe because of all my teammates. They really deserve it! I wish them good luck! I was upset and disappointed by the way the things happened and especially by this publication that makes me feel all my efforts were wasted. With everything been said about me there is a chance my reputation could be ruin. I truly can say basketball is my life and I have love for the game and I know Lukoil player do as well so I wish luck against Levski on Friday", said Burks.