Abrines Says Deal With Thunder Happened "Really Fast"

By Randy Renner, Senior Writer

Up until about a month ago Spanish basketball star Alex Abrines was hoping to make Spain’s Olympic squad and then looking forward to another season with Barcelona in the European League.

And then a lot of things changed.

“I’m hallucinating with everything that’s happening, the NBA, the Games,” Abrines told the Spanish website Marca.com this week.

The Thunder had offered Abrines a deal to come over to the United States last season but he turned it down to remain in Barcelona where he was already under contract. But when Kevin Durant left the Thunder behind for Golden State early last month the team went back to Abrines with a new offer.

“They made an offer different from the one they made at the end of the season and the conditions were right,” Abrines said. “It all changed within 10 days.”

When he agreed to the deal with OKC he still had to finish up a buy out of his Barcelona contract. He also had to come to Oklahoma City to check out the facilities and meet again with Thunder GM Sam Presti. That forced him to take some time away from the Spanish National Team and he was concerned he might lose his spot on the Olympic squad.

“I was worried,” he admitted in the Marca.com interview.

“I tried to work as much as I could when I got back and harness all that wasted time,” he said.

He didn’t need to worry. Abrines got his deal done with the Thunder and still made Spain’s Olympic team.

“There are a few nerves because I do not know how it will be, just the stories I hear. I must be a unique experience to be with the best athletes in all the Olympic disciplines.”

While Abrines was in Oklahoma City last month he had a chance to meet some of his future Thunder teammates and renew a friendship with Lithuania’s Domantas Sabonis who was also in OKC at the time.

“There were six or seven of them at the facility training and I spoke with Sabonis. I played with his brother when he was in Malaga (Spain). It was nice to have someone who speaks your language as you know that will make life easier.”

Abrines said he met head coach Billy Donovan and the coaching staff and spoke with them about his future role on the team.

“They said I would have opportunities but I have to work.”

Abrines knows a lot of people will be watching especially since his contract (3-years, almost $18 million) is the richest ever signed by a European rookie.

“Everything comes with responsibility,” he told Marca.com. “The more you are paid the more they will expect from you. Having the best contract of a European rookie I will have to work much harder than if I had a lower one. It’s a nice challenge.”

Thunder fans will be able to get a sneak peak at both Abrines and Sabonis during the Olympic basketball tournament which begins Saturday.