NBA

20 MLB & NBA Players Who Refuse To Return In 2020

Darren - July 15, 2020

NBA

20 MLB & NBA Players Who Refuse To Return In 2020

Darren - July 15, 2020

6. Ryan Zimmerman

Zimmerman is one of a trio of Washington Nationals’ stars who chose to opt out. The 35-year-old is a 15-year Nationals’ veteran. However, despite the longevity of his time in Washington, he still chose to put his family first. But he had a very good reason for that decision.

First of all, his mother suffers from multiple sclerosis and is in the high-risk category. In short, Zimmerman does not want to endanger her life. He also has a three-month-old baby who he would not be able to see for weeks. Last season, he batted .257 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 171 at-bats, including a dramatic home run in Game One of the World Series.

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5. Thabo Sefolosha

Sefolosha played in 41 games this season for Houston, averaging 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.6 minutes. However, he chose to opt-out after several Rockets’ teammates fell ill during the current health crisis. The veteran says that he needs to think of his family, which is why he will not play in Orlando.

He was a reserve player for the team this season, averaging 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game in 41 appearances. Sefolosha had seen more game time since January because of injuries but still only played in two of the Rockets’ past nine games. He may have played his last game in Texas.

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4. Tyson Ross

Veteran right-hander Ross chose to opt-out of the restart after the Giants surprisingly chose to release him. He arrived on a minor league deal with a view to stepping up to MLB. As Ross wasn’t going to play, the Giants had no reason to hold onto him.

Ross’s decision mirrors that of his younger brother who will also sit out of the new season. His career deteriorated after a spate of injuries. In short, Ross looked like a worldbeater during his days with the Padres, but would still be a great depth arm for many teams.

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3. Victor Oladipo

It was a very frustrating season for Oladipo. First, injury kept him out for a major chunk of the season. This also disrupted him when he came back and prevented him from showing his full potential in the games that he did play. Now the Indiana Pacers confirmed that he won’t be at Disney World.

This is a massive blow for the Pacers as they hope to make a run into the playoffs. Some people feel that Oladipo is missing an opportunity from reminding the league of his talents. But the two-time All-Star says he’s not mentally or physically ready. He’s arguably the most influential loss for the restart.

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2. Wellington Castillo

‘Beef’ was the third Washington Nationals’ player to opt out of their 60-man roster. He has a wife and two children in the Dominican Republic which is why he doesn’t want to spend his summer playing baseball away from them. However, his coaches understand.

He was competing to be the Nationals’ third option at catcher behind Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes. With the expanded roster format, there was a good chance that he would play on opening day as part of the active roster. But family comes first and Castillo decided he had to prioritize.

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1. Bradley Beal

Washington Wizards star Beal lit up their season. And that’s exactly why he chose to opt out of the bubble. After a career year, Beal and the Wizards recognize the need for him to stay healthy. Fans expect Beal to stay in Washington in 2020 after he signed a two-year extension last year.

However, the Wizards aren’t exactly competitive, so Beal will keep his options open. He averaged 30.5 points per game this season, a new career-high by nearly five points. He’s in the top form of his NBA career and will be a vital cog for the Wizards next season.

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