I still remember the first time I saw Greg Slaughter play in the PBA - this 7-foot giant moving with surprising grace, someone who genuinely looked like he could dominate Philippine basketball for years. Fast forward to today, and his absence from the league feels like one of those "what could have been" stories that sports fans can't help but revisit. As someone who's followed the PBA for over a decade, I've seen numerous players come and go, but Slaughter's case remains particularly fascinating to me.
When Greg entered the PBA as the first overall pick in the2013 draft, expectations were sky-high. I recall thinking Barangay Ginebra had finally found their franchise center, someone who could anchor their defense while providing reliable scoring in the paint. His rookie season didn't disappoint either - he averaged 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 52% from the field, numbers that earned him Rookie of the Year honors. For a while, it seemed like the perfect marriage between player and team.
But basketball evolves, and unfortunately, Greg's game didn't seem to evolve at the same pace as the league. The PBA was shifting toward more mobile big men who could switch on defense and stretch the floor, while Slaughter remained primarily a traditional back-to-the-basket center. I noticed during the 2018-2019 season that his playing time became increasingly inconsistent, and rumors about his relationship with then-coach Tim Cone started circulating. This is where things get particularly interesting when we consider the recent comments from Chris Ross about offensive systems.
Ross's observation that "June isn't the focal point of the offense" and his mention of how "playing in the triangle before during Asian Games, the offense is catered around JB" reveals something crucial about basketball systems and player fit. Watching Slaughter over the years, I always felt he needed a specific offensive system to truly thrive - something that would consistently feed him the ball in the post rather than treating him as just another piece. The triangle offense Ross mentioned, which centered around specific players, would have been perfect for someone with Greg's skillset. Instead, he often found himself in systems where he was expected to be more versatile than his natural game allowed.
The 2021 season marked the real turning point. After eight seasons with Ginebra, Slaughter surprisingly announced he was stepping away from basketball, citing the need to "heal his body and mind." As a fan, this struck me as unusual - players typically take short breaks, not complete hiatuses during their prime years. His statistics that final season had dipped to 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game, clear indicators that something wasn't right.
What's Greg Slaughter doing now? Well, here's where the story takes an unexpected turn. After his PBA departure, he resurfaced in Japan's B.League, signing with the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka. The move made sense to me - international leagues often value traditional big men more than modern Philippine basketball does. His numbers in Japan have been respectable, around 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last I checked, though he's playing fewer minutes than during his PBA prime.
I've spoken with several basketball analysts about Slaughter's current situation, and the consensus seems to be that he found a better fit overseas. The slower pace of Japan's league and their different defensive schemes allow him to maximize his size advantage without exposing his mobility limitations as much. Personally, I think this was a smart career move - sometimes a player needs a change of scenery more than anything else.
Reflecting on Greg Slaughter's PBA journey, I can't help but wonder how different things might have been if he'd entered the league five years earlier, when traditional centers were still highly valued. His story reminds me that basketball success isn't just about talent - it's about timing, system fit, and sometimes plain luck. The PBA's evolution toward positionless basketball created an environment where his particular skills became less valuable, regardless of how dominant he could be in specific matchups.
Where is Greg Slaughter now? From what I gather through social media and basketball contacts, he seems content with his Japanese basketball career while maintaining connections back home. He occasionally posts training videos that show he's still working on his game, including expanding his range beyond the three-point line. I wouldn't be surprised if we see him back in the PBA someday, though likely in a different role than the franchise player many envisioned him becoming.
The case of Greg Slaughter serves as a fascinating case study in how professional sports careers can take unexpected turns. What happened to him in the PBA wasn't really about lack of talent - it was about the collision between a specific player type and a league that was rapidly changing around him. His current chapter in Japan proves that there's always another opportunity somewhere if you're willing to adapt and look beyond traditional paths. As someone who's watched countless players navigate their careers, I've come to appreciate that sometimes stepping away from one stage allows you to find another where you can shine differently.