I'm At Peace - University of Maryland Athletics (2024)

A lifetime of success on the basketball court came at a hefty price for Greivis Vásquez, but after years of surgeries and procedures the Maryland and Venezuelan legend is at peace with his life.

By Bennett Solomon, umterps.com Contributing Writer

Scroll down for Spanish translation via Google Translate

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Greivis Vásquez was on top of the world.

Coming off a season in which he won the Bob Cousy Award and was named ACC Player of the Year and a Wooden Award First Team All-American, the Maryland basketball phenom opened the eyes of NBA scouts.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Vásquez with the 28th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. His dream came true. He had wanted to play in the NBA since he was a child playing on the blacktop in Caracas, Venezuela. He even wrote the names of basketball leagues in the United States on a piece of paper. When Vásquez’s name was called, he shouted excitedly and hugged the person closest to him.

Former NBA commissioner David Stern went for a handshake on the stage. Instead, Vásquez wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. The new Grizzlies point guard wasn’t just another NBA draft pick. It was bigger than that.

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I take a lot of responsibility coming from Venezuela and doing these things because I want the next generation to understand that it's never going to be easy. My life changed the moment I came to the United States.

Greivis Vásquez

Vásquez became just the third Venezuelan to make it to the NBA. For a country known for its baseball rather than basketball, Vásquez opened the eyes of young Venezuelans to the possibility of making it to the NBA. He left his country on his mom’s birthday in 2004. Six years later, he got his shot in the NBA.

“I take a lot of responsibility coming from Venezuela and doing these things because I want the next generation to understand that it's never going to be easy,” he said. “My life changed the moment I came to the United States.”

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The former Maryland phenom played seven seasons in the NBA with six teams. His best stint came with the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) during the 2012-2013 season, when he led the league in total assists and finished second in the NBA Most Improved Player Award race.

However, during the 2015 season, everything changed. Vásquez’s right ankle began to deteriorate. His documentary “All I Ever Wanted” explained that his ankles were a minor problem when he played on courts in Caracas. It didn’t hinder his ability throughout his collegiate career but ultimately ballooned into a career-ending injury by 2016.

His first surgery happened in 2015. Then another in 2016. He could barely get out of bed and could barely walk. Vásquez says he was depressed. All he wanted to do was get back on the court.

He saw multiple doctors in various states and tried different programs to make the ankle healthier, but nothing worked. As his fight to return to the NBA continued, his relationships with family and friends deteriorated. He pushed everyone away in an attempt to get back on the court.

“I was being selfish,” Vásquez said. “I wanted to play basketball. I wanted to finish my career the right way. It was never about money or fame or anything like that. It was about me proving myself once again.”

I was being selfish. I wanted to play basketball. I wanted to finish my career the right way. It was never about money or fame or anything like that. It was about me proving myself once again.

Greivis Vásquez

But that opportunity never came, as his ankle never got healthier. Vásquez limped everywhere he went, and he still felt constant pain. His reality was approaching.

Vásquez began coaching to fill his void of playing basketball. He was an assistant coach for the Erie Bayhawks, the New Orleans Pelicans G-League affiliate. In the documentary, he was frustrated that he could barely move while coaching. He wanted to get involved, but mobility was still a hassle.

He needed something to change. A trip to Italy followed, where stem cells were inserted into his ankle. The COVID-19 virus forced Vásquez to cut his rehab short and return to the U.S.

He finally began experiencing less pain, could move again and was finally happy. He started to rekindle the relationships he lost, most notably with his kids. He now spends as much time with them as possible, attending their soccer games and birthday parties. Their connection now is unbelievable, Vásquez says.

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Another relationship Vásquez has always cherished is his relationship with his home country. He now runs clinics in Venezuela to help kids fulfill the same dream Vásquez had when he was a child playing in Caracas.

He founded the Greivis Vásquez Foundation, which seeks to “educate, inspire, and equip youth with tools to succeed.”

“I want to mentor other kids. I want to help the youth, especially the Latin culture,” he said.

Terps fans may find Vásquez in the DMV area now that he’ll be suiting up off the court at Capital One Arena for Monumental Sports Network as their pre- and post-game analyst.

Vásquez’s jersey is hanging in the rafters at XFINITY Center, and he’s a member of the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. Both were accomplishments he never thought he could accomplish.

Growing up in Venezuela, he fought violence and poverty, but that never took away his love for basketball. Although his NBA career didn’t finish as planned, Vásquez is making an impact off the court in his home country and College Park.

Vásquez’s professional career story vastly contrasts his four-year career at Maryland from 2006-10. During this time, he finished his career as Maryland’s second all-time leading scorer and assister and was the only player in ACC history with 2,000 points, 700 assists, and 600 rebounds.

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However, his story and fight are inspiring. Making it to the NBA was all he ever wanted. He accomplished his goal but came away with an appreciation of his journey, which has undoubtedly made him a better person.

“At this point in my life, I'm at peace,” Vásquez said. “I'm going to be around the DMV a lot, and that got me really excited. I'm in a better position right now than I was last year and the previous year. You guys know me, I'm a fighter. I'm going to fight. This next chapter is going to be important. … I'm thankful for the opportunity that I'm going to be still around the NBA with people who also want to help me.”

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En español por Google Translate

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Greivis Vásquez estaba en la cima del mundo.

Después de una temporada en la que ganó el premio Bob Cousy y fue nombrado Jugador del Año de la ACC y un premio Wooden Award First Team All-American, el fenómeno del baloncesto de Maryland abrió los ojos de los cazatalentos de la NBA.

Los Memphis Grizzlies seleccionaron a Vásquez con la selección número 28 en el Draft de la NBA de 2010. Su sueño se hizo realidad. Había querido jugar en la NBA desde que era un niño jugando en el asfalto de Caracas, Venezuela. Incluso escribió en un papel los nombres de las ligas de baloncesto de Estados Unidos. Cuando llamaron el nombre de Vásquez, gritó emocionado y abrazó a la persona más cercana a él.

El ex comisionado de la NBA, David Stern, subió al escenario para darse un apretón de manos. En cambio, Vásquez lo rodeó con sus brazos y lo abrazó. El nuevo armador de los Grizzlies no fue una selección más del draft de la NBA. Era más grande que eso.

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Asumo mucha responsabilidad viniendo de Venezuela y haciendo estas cosas porque quiero que la próxima generación entienda que nunca será fácil. Mi vida cambió en el momento en que llegué a los Estados Unidos.

Greivis Vásquez

Vásquez se convirtió en apenas el tercer venezolano en llegar a la NBA. Para un país conocido por su béisbol más que por su baloncesto, Vásquez abrió los ojos de los jóvenes venezolanos ante la posibilidad de llegar a la NBA. Dejó su país el día del cumpleaños de su madre en 2004. Seis años después, consiguió su oportunidad en la NBA.

“Asumo mucha responsabilidad viniendo de Venezuela y haciendo estas cosas porque quiero que la próxima generación entienda que nunca será fácil”, dijo. “Mi vida cambió en el momento en que llegué a los Estados Unidos”.

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El ex fenómeno de Maryland jugó siete temporadas en la NBA con seis equipos. Su mejor etapa fue con los New Orleans Hornets (ahora Pelicans) durante la temporada 2012-2013, cuando lideró la liga en asistencias totales y terminó segundo en la carrera por el Premio al Jugador Más Mejorado de la NBA.

Sin embargo, durante la temporada 2015 todo cambió. El tobillo derecho de Vásquez comenzó a deteriorarse. Su documental “All I Ever Wanted” explicó que sus tobillos eran un problema menor cuando jugaba en las canchas de Caracas. No obstaculizó su capacidad a lo largo de su carrera universitaria, pero finalmente se convirtió en una lesión que puso fin a su carrera en 2016.

Su primera cirugía ocurrió en 2015. Luego otra en 2016. Apenas podía levantarse de la cama y apenas podía caminar. Vásquez dice que estaba deprimido. Lo único que quería era volver a la cancha.

Visitó a varios médicos en varios estados y probó diferentes programas para mejorar la salud del tobillo, pero nada funcionó. A medida que continuaba su lucha por regresar a la NBA, sus relaciones con familiares y amigos se deterioraron. Apartó a todos en un intento de volver a la cancha.

“Estaba siendo egoísta”, dijo Vásquez. “Quería jugar baloncesto. Quería terminar mi carrera de la manera correcta. Nunca se trató de dinero o fama ni nada de eso. Se trataba de demostrar mi valía una vez más”.

Pero esa oportunidad nunca llegó, ya que su tobillo nunca mejoró. Vásquez cojeaba en todos los lugares a los que iba y todavía sentía un dolor constante. Su realidad se acercaba.

Vásquez comenzó a entrenar para llenar su vacío de jugar baloncesto. Fue entrenador asistente de los Erie Bayhawks, la filial de la G-League de los New Orleans Pelicans. En el documental, estaba frustrado porque apenas podía moverse mientras entrenaba. Quería involucrarse, pero la movilidad todavía era una molestia.

Necesitaba algo que cambiar. Siguió un viaje a Italia, donde le insertaron células madre en el tobillo. El virus COVID-19 obligó a Vásquez a interrumpir su rehabilitación y regresar a Estados Unidos.

Finalmente comenzó a sentir menos dolor, pudo moverse nuevamente y finalmente fue feliz. Comenzó a reavivar las relaciones que perdió, sobre todo con sus hijos. Ahora pasa todo el tiempo posible con ellos, asistiendo a sus partidos de fútbol y a sus fiestas de cumpleaños. Su conexión ahora es increíble, dice Vásquez.

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Another relationship Vásquez has always cherished is his relationship with his home country. He now runs clinics in Venezuela to help kids fulfill the same dream Vásquez had when he was a child playing in Caracas.

He founded the Greivis Vásquez Foundation, which seeks to “educate, inspire, and equip youth with tools to succeed.”

“I want to mentor other kids. I want to help the youth, especially the Latin culture,” he said.

Los fanáticos de Terps pueden encontrar a Vásquez en el área del DMV ahora que se vestirá fuera de la cancha en Capital One Arena para Monumental Sports Network como su analista antes y después del juego.

La camiseta de Vásquez está colgada en las vigas del XFINITY Center y es miembro del Salón de la Fama del Atletismo de Maryland. Ambos fueron logros que nunca pensó que podría lograr.

Al crecer en Venezuela, luchó contra la violencia y la pobreza, pero eso nunca le quitó su amor por el baloncesto. Aunque su carrera en la NBA no terminó según lo planeado, Vásquez está causando un impacto fuera de la cancha en su país de origen y en College Park.

La historia de la carrera profesional de Vásquez contrasta enormemente con su carrera de cuatro años en Maryland del 2006 al 2010. Durante este tiempo, terminó su carrera como el segundo máximo anotador y asistente de todos los tiempos de Maryland y fue el único jugador en la historia de la ACC con 2000 puntos, 700 asistencias y 600 rebotes.

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Sin embargo, su historia y su lucha son inspiradoras. Llegar a la NBA fue todo lo que siempre quiso. Logró su objetivo pero salió apreciando su viaje, lo que sin duda lo ha convertido en una mejor persona.

“En este momento de mi vida, estoy en paz”, dijo Vásquez. “Voy a estar mucho tiempo en el DMV y eso me emocionó mucho. Estoy en una mejor posición ahora que el año pasado y el año anterior. Ustedes me conocen, soy un luchador. Voy a pelear. El próximo capítulo va a ser importante. … Estoy agradecido por la oportunidad de seguir en la NBA con gente que también quiere ayudarme”.

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