UFA Teague doesn't care about starting role: 'I want to win'

Fresh off a three-year, $57-million contract and closing in on nearly $100 million in career earnings from his 11-season NBA career, upcoming free agent Jeff Teague says he'll be prioritizing a winning situation with his next contract.

"Honestly, I just want to go to a team where we're playing to win," Teague told HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. "I want to win. Like you've said, I've been to the playoffs for the first nine years of my career. That's all I know is winning, competing, and trying to get to that ultimate goal of a championship. That's what I want to play for is to win."

Since breaking out as a starter with the Atlanta Hawks in 2011-12, Teague has averaged 14.4 points, 6.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game with 35.8% shooting from the 3-point line. His career peaked with a selection to the 2015 All-Star Game as a key component of that year's 60-win Hawks team.

After putting up 10.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in a 2019-20 season split between lottery-bound Minnesota Timberwolves and the Hawks, Teague finds himself back on the market as an unrestricted free agent and willing to accept a rotation role with his next team.

"If that's starting or coming off the bench, I just want to play a significant role in winning," Teague said. "That's really it for me. I know if I get a chance to play and compete, I'm going to play well."