Chicago-born basketball player Priest Lauderdale obtained Bulgarian citizenship in the beginning of November, becoming the highest man in the country with his 222-centimeter height. Photo by bulgarianbasket.com
The 222-cm US-born star of LukOil Academic Priest Lauderdale have escaped the basketball team and surprisingly left for his homeland.
Together with his fellow countryman Brian Smith, Lauderdale has taken on the flight to the US and according to their personal manager none of them plans to return to Bulgaria.
Gary Ebert said a local sports radio that the US stars have left because of consistent delay of their monthly salaries over the last ten months. Their contracts provide that in case of delay in salary payment of more than 35 days, the player can leave the club.
However, LukOil Academic said that Lauderdale had been paid a hefty amount of money upon his arrival in the club and that actually he was the one owing money.
In November the 31-aged Priest Lauderdale received Bulgarian citizenship.