Calathes on reports he wants to go back to Europe: 'NBA is my first priority'

Following a report from Spain that alleged he wanted out of the NBA and to head back to Europe, Nick Calathes reaffirmed his commitment to the Association on Tuesday.

"The NBA is my first priority," the veteran guard told HoopsHype, calling the Spanish report, which linked him to an offer from Barcelona, "not true at all."

Calathes' two-year, minimum salary contract with the Memphis Grizzlies came to an end with the team's second round loss to the Golden State Warriors, although a qualifying offer worth more than $1.1 million from the Grizzlies would make Calathes a restricted free agent.

The 26-year-old pick-and-roll point guard averaged 4.6 points, 2.7 assists, 1.9 rebounds and a steal in two seasons off the Grizzlies' bench, providing adequate defense at the point of attack. With starting point guard Mike Conley sidelined with facial fractures, Calathes started three of Memphis' nine playoff games this year.

Still, he's perhaps best known for his 20-game suspension - which was assessed right before the 2014 playoffs were to start - for testing positive for Tamoxifen, a banned substance found in a supplement Calathes was taking at the time for his hair loss.

Despite a lack of evidence of any testosterone or performance-enhancing drugs in the results, Calathes served his 20 games, which stretched into the first 13 of this season.

After two seasons at Florida, Calathes played four years professionally in Greece before coming to the NBA, winning a Euroleague title and two Greek championships with Panathinaikos.