Tyler Dorsey is returning to Olympiacos’ team training schedule starting today, one month after his disciplinary infraction. Throughout this time, the 30-year-old shooting guard has been training on his own, usually right before the rest of the team’s practice.
At noon today, the international star will take part in a lighter training session following yesterday’s victory over Dubai BC. Dorsey has made sure to stay in good physical condition (in fact, he is expected to be called up to the national team for the games against Georgia on November 26 and Spain on November 29) and it is up to Giorgos Bartzokas to decide whether to include him in the roster for Sunday’s derby against Aris at Nick Galis Hall.
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In any case, the Piraeus team’s coach sent a clear message to the player yesterday with his comments following the victory at SUNEL Arena. “Olympiacos didn’t make a mistake; the player made a mistake. He has to earn his spot. We respect him. We’re not asking anything of anyone. Tyler played as a starter for the Greek and European champions. He needs to be satisfied, too. If he succeeds, he’ll be useful to the team; if he doesn’t, that’s another matter,” he said.
How should his comments be interpreted? The Olympiacos coach is waiting to see Dorsey’s attitude in practice. If he comes in eager to contribute, plays for the team rather than himself, displays the right attitude, and this time avoids complaining about his role and playing time, he’ll be put into action immediately. It’s difficult for that to happen in the game against Aris (despite the shortage of Greek players and the importance of the match, which could determine first place in the regular season), but not impossible. It’s more likely, however, that we’ll see him on the roster for Tuesday’s game against Maccabi in Cyprus.
Giorgos Bartzokas has no doubt about Dorsey’s quality and the importance of his presence on the Olympiacos roster, especially given Jan Montero’s prolonged absence and the fact that the team still hasn’t been able to sign a guard. However, he certainly wants to test Dorsey’s commitment to the team. If the 30-year-old star passes these “tests,” then he will once again become a member of the team—and a very important one at that. If not—that is, if he appears disheartened by his punishment, unwilling to rejoin the team, and pouting every time he feels wronged—he’ll be sidelined. This time, for good!
What seems clear is that Olympiacos has no intention of selling him. The club has already rejected approaches from PAOK and Hapoel, who were willing to offer large sums for a buyout, and it doesn’t appear they’ll change their stance, even if the player leaves this summer as a free agent. As long as Dorsey behaves professionally and honors his contract, the team will look to make the most of him for as long as he remains on the roster, at least until the summer.
The latest offer made to him—which did not satisfy him—reportedly amounted to 2.8 million per year. Olympiacos does not appear willing to go above that amount, which is stipulated in the contract of Final Four and Finals MVP Evan Fournier. It’s a given that Dorsey wants his final major contract—while he’s still in his prime—to include the highest possible salary and the biggest possible role, with PAOK willing to satisfy both of these “wants” starting this summer. Rumor has it that Telis Mystakidis’s offer reached 14 million for four years, and certainly the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North,” even though they’d like to have him right now, will have no problem waiting for him until the summer.
Right now, the most likely scenario is that Olympiacos and Dorsey will go their separate ways at the end of the season. But let’s keep an open mind. His future with the team seemed bleak and a split seemed inevitable, but by the 2025 finals, when he stepped up, he became instrumental in winning the championship, and went on to have the best season of his career.
*photo source: KYPE
