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Point guard Rafer Alston, mercifully traded by the Nets at the New Year, started every game he played for the Heat, 25 in total. But coach Erik Spoelstra decided to bench Alston almost two weeks ago, an announcement which was met not with conflict, but with silence. Radio silence.Alston disappeared, his only contact with the Heat a text message sent to the team trainer. The text reportedly indicated Alston would not be returning to the team. And he hasn't; Spoelstra or team president Pat Riley apparently have not heard from the guard. As a result, Riley announced Friday the team has suspended Alston for the remainder of the season.
So why is Alston gone? Was he just that mad at being supplanted as starter by Carlos Arroyo? Perhaps there's more; Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Alston has said his twin sister recently attempted to commit suicide. But while word has got out to the media about that, the team hasn't heard it from Alston's mouth. Riley said the franchise had no choice but to suspend him, which rules him out for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.
A playground legend (known as Skip 2 My Lou) in Queens, N.Y., Alston made his NBA name in his first tour with the Heat, helping lead Miami to the Eastern Conference semis during Dwyane Wade's rookie season. Alston later became a key member of the Tracy McGrady-Yao Ming Rockets, starting at point guard until he was traded to Orlando midway through last season. On draft day 2009, he was traded to New Jersey as a part of the Vince Carter salary dump.
Alston turns 34 this summer, when he will be an unrestricted free agent, and it'd be surprising if he signed another NBA contract.
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