Kobe Bryant will not sign a new deal until he test the European market.

[sith lord]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adanda_ja&page=eurodraw-080809

When David Stern said he wanted the NBA to become more global, I don't think this is what he had in mind. :laugh:

[Spaceman Spiff]

This is good to see, I'd love to see the NBA lose some stars. :)

[sith lord]

This is good to see, I'd love to see the NBA lose some stars. :)

I would love to see it happen as well just to stick it to Stern, but I can't help but to think that this just may be a negotiating ploy.

[VASkins540]

Lebron said he's interested in fielding international offers as well.




EDIT: Which is stated in the first sentence. :doh: :laugh:

Actually reading the articles before posting is generally a good idea. :D

[Oldskool]

This will all be moot if the dollar rebounds before 2010. If that happens, no way these guys go overseas chasing Euros.

[DCranon21]

This will all be moot if the dollar rebounds before 2010. If that happens, no way these guys go overseas chasing Euros.

The dollar will rebound, Kobe won't go anywhere. He'll stay a Laker :)

[spjunkies]

Maybe the Wiz will win a championship after all.

[sith lord]

Lebron said he's interested in fielding international offers as well.




EDIT: Which is stated in the first sentence. :doh: :laugh:

Actually reading the articles before posting is generally a good idea. :D

I've also heard Wade would entertain offers overseas.

[sith lord]

Maybe the Wiz will win a championship after all.

They'll still come up short. :D

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

A SOURCE close to Lebron allegedly said he'd THINK about 50 million a year.

I wouldn't call that a serious consideration.

[StillUnknown]

this could cause the NBA to get rid of the salary cap if a major star did go overseas

[Zen-like Todd]

A SOURCE close to Lebron allegedly said he'd THINK about 50 million a year.

I wouldn't call that a serious consideration.


Hmm...




LeBron: I'll Play Anywhere

Aug 09, 2008 6:50 PM EST

LeBron James claims that he was serious about the possibilty of playing overseas if he decides to opt out of his contract with the Cavaliers in the summer of 2010, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"You never know," James said at Team USA's media briefing Friday.

"I can't just throw all my eggs in one basket. There's going to be a lot of opportunities for me in 2010 to decide if I want to stay with Cleveland or if I want to go elsewhere. Could I ever imagine it? No. Is it a possibility? Yes."

James claims that he has not received any offers from foreign teams, nor has he been contacted.

"I haven't talked to any of them at all," James said. "So it's kind of a rumor that was put out there...with the right opportunity, you never know."

"I love basketball. So I'll play basketball anywhere."

[luckydevil]

A SOURCE close to Lebron allegedly said he'd THINK about 50 million a year.

I wouldn't call that a serious consideration.

Lebron is now on record as saying that he would consider it. This is a serious threat. Kobe is going to opt out next summer, should be interesting.

[Mooka]

Kobe did live in Italy for a good portion of his life.

[Monte51Coleman]

We live in a global marketplace. Why should athletes be any different?

[luckydevil]

Kobe did live in Italy for a good portion of his life.

I am not sure any Italian club can afford him.

[Destino]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider that some people would just like to live in Europe? A lot of Americans like it there and a lot of Europeans like it here in the US. Add to that the fact that Kobe got some rough treatment during his sex scandal, moving to Europe might revamp his endorsement offers. Plus he's probably not nearly as hated by many over there.

[luckydevil]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider that some people would just like to live in Europe? A lot of Americans like it there and a lot of Europeans like it here in the US. Add to that the fact that Kobe got some rough treatment during his sex scandal, moving to Europe might revamp his endorsement offers. Plus he's probably not nearly as hated by many over there.

Good point, I rather live in places like Athens/Milan/Barcelona than Cleveland.

[Monte51Coleman]

International groupies. :)

[Spaceman Spiff]

Good point, I rather live in places like Athens/Milan/Barcelona than Cleveland.

Saying you'd rather live elsewhere than Cleveland isn't a stretch :laugh:

You could say the same about Jersey :rince: :evil:

[Oldskool]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider that some people would just like to live in Europe? A lot of Americans like it there and a lot of Europeans like it here in the US. Add to that the fact that Kobe got some rough treatment during his sex scandal, moving to Europe might revamp his endorsement offers. Plus he's probably not nearly as hated by many over there.

Many players would fit like a square peg in a round slot if they went to live in Europe. The culture that they grew up in would ill suit them for life there. Bryant on the other hand would fit like a glove there. The fact that Kobe had so many Euro players on the Lakers last year was said to be one of the factors in him feeling very at ease with the club.

[Seabee1973]

In europe its not goaltending when you grab a ball of the rim

[Blackest Eyes]

I guess they just want to play in Europe for the cash?

[Siven]

Why doesn't anyone ever consider that some people would just like to live in Europe? A lot of Americans like it there and a lot of Europeans like it here in the US. Add to that the fact that Kobe got some rough treatment during his sex scandal, moving to Europe might revamp his endorsement offers. Plus he's probably not nearly as hated by many over there.

I've been to europe numerous times, and am going back for a full year, after undergrad and med school I plan to move to Europe for at least 5 years, but most likely for the rest of my life.

Some people love it. Some people don't. I'm sure Kobe loved it in Milan, it is a great city.

[Siven]

Many players would fit like a square peg in a round slot if they went to live in Europe. The culture that they grew up in would ill suit them for life there. Bryant on the other hand would fit like a glove there. The fact that Kobe had so many Euro players on the Lakers last year was said to be one of the factors in him feeling very at ease with the club.

I don't think so.

I think they would bring their whole entourage and it would be for one year, maybe two, just an extended vacation. I think if you're a millionaire superstar, it's very easy to fit into any culture.

I think the thing Kobe or LeBron would have to adjust to, is the fact that they are megastars here, everyone knows who they are.

I am not sure if every italian or spaniard knows who Lebron James is, or if they do, do they really care that much about them.

Soccer is king in italy, basketball is......... a sport ten guys play

[Oldskool]

I don't think so.

I think they would bring their whole entourage and it would be for one year, maybe two, just an extended vacation. I think if you're a millionaire superstar, it's very easy to fit into any culture.

I think the thing Kobe or LeBron would have to adjust to, is the fact that they are megastars here, everyone knows who they are.

I am not sure if every italian or spaniard knows who Lebron James is, or if they do, do they really care that much about them.

Soccer is king in italy, basketball is......... a sport ten guys play

I think that this is a very naive notion. You cannot just simply waive money and voila you fit into any culture.

Having lived in Europe and worked with Europeans while working for Fox/Newscorp, I can tell you the cultural differences are very much there.

And Soccer may be king in Europe but Basketball has been played professionally in Europe for 50+ years and has exploded worldwide.

http://www.euroleague.net/history/50-years/main

[SkinFaninOKC]

First let me say **** Adande and his dissing of OKC AND my Rockets. Why should they get any less respect because Jordan retired for two ****ing years??

Second I hope Kobe AND LeBron go to Europe. ESPN, ABC, and TNT would **** a gold brick because now they would have to shell out the cash to cover those games. You thought you would get to watch Lakers vs. Cavs, but wait, now you have to watch some club in Athens play some other club from Berlin.

[sly]

Second I hope Kobe AND LeBron go to Europe. ESPN, ABC, and TNT would **** a gold brick because now they would have to shell out the cash to cover those games.


So you're saying the television networks aren't paying for the rights to NBA games now?


And, why do so many of you think it's a GOOD thing that American basketball/NBA fans would have to watch their favorite players at odd hours of the day overseas? To stick it to David Stern? To stick it to professional basketball in this country? To stick it to American sponsors? Those are good enough reasons, eh? The fans are the ones that suffer. Am I a bad person for enjoying watching the BEST basketball players play in the BEST professional basketball league?

[SkinsFTW]

The dollar will rebound, Kobe won't go anywhere. He'll stay a Laker :)

Like how the dollar rebounded against the Yen since the 80's, right?

You can't just "know" that it's going to happen when there is nothing to indicate that it has any chance to.

[frommd]

Dwyane Wade is saying something similar I think. I have a feeling this is a negotiating ploy with the NBA. These guys don't want to go oversees. They just want more $$$ from the league. :2cents:

[Touchdown Redskins]

If any of the superstars depart for Europe, then that will be a huge blow to the NBA. It would be bigger than the Donaghy scandal, and I think it would mark the beginning of the end of the NBA. It doesn't say much about your league when you don't have the best players in the world playing in it.

It's funny, a lot of European basketball players come over to the US because they want to play against the best, while it may turn out that the best players are leaving simply for money.

[Corcaigh]

If any of the superstars depart for Europe, then that will be a huge blow to the NBA. It would be bigger than the Donaghy scandal, and I think it would mark the beginning of the end of the NBA. It doesn't say much about your league when you don't have the best players in the world playing in it.



If the European teams become powerhouses that match up well with NBA teams it could make for interesting inter-league play.

In soccer, the English, Italian and Spanish leagues typically have very strong teams, with credible opposition coming from German, Dutch and others. The excitement of the European Champions league is at another level.

How about a 'superbowl' of basketball where the best team in the NBA plays the best in Europe?

[megared]

I think the NBA may have a problem if they don't do something. They can't compete with $50 million salaries, that are tax-free. Not in 2 years, or in 10 under the NBA's current salary structure.

[GibbsFactor]

Yet another example of America losing steam to the rest of the world.

They are catching up way to quickly for my taste. Globalization is good when it doesn't entail weakening our country to get there.

[Hooper]

It's not just that some of these international teams would double Kobe or Labron's salary -- they also will pay all their taxes on top of it. At least that's the deal they made with the NBA guys they recently lured away.

Hmm, so either it's Paris and 30 mil a year, or Cleveland and ten?

See ya, Cleveland.

[Touchdown Redskins]

If the European teams become powerhouses that match up well with NBA teams it could make for interesting inter-league play.

In soccer, the English, Italian and Spanish leagues typically have very strong teams, with credible opposition coming from German, Dutch and others. The excitement of the European Champions league is at another level.

How about a 'superbowl' of basketball where the best team in the NBA plays the best in Europe?
Hey, we haven't won a gold in any world event since 2000...I think we're already past that point ;).

But on a serious note, what you're suggesting may be good for the game of basketball as an artform/competitive sport, but it is NOT good for the NBA. But I do like the idea of having our own American NBA Championship, and then sending the top 4 or 8 teams to a World Basketball Championship event. The only problem is that they already have something like that with the Olympics, and I'd rather have Kobe/Lebron et al. on a US basketball team than some Euro team.

[sly]

But I do like the idea of having our own American NBA Championship, and then sending the top 4 or 8 teams to a World Basketball Championship event. The only problem is that they already have something like that with the Olympics,


And the um... World Basketball Championship...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIBA_World_Championship
http://www.turkey2010.com/

[China]

The untold message that would be sent if James or Bryant departed would be that an NBA championship or an MVP didn't mean as much anymore.

While this would be true for James, it wouldn't for Kobe. He already has an NBA championship under his belt, plus he spent time in Europe as a kid.

[artmonkforHOF]

This will all be moot if the dollar rebounds before 2010. If that happens, no way these guys go overseas chasing Euros.

you mean rebound from 1 US dollar=0.63 Euros to back in the good ol days, when a US greenback could buy you 0.74 euros?:laugh::laugh:

Face it, the US Dollar is to the Euro what the Canadian Dollar used to be to the greenback. The US Dollar is not even rebounding on any econimic issues, its large currency traders who think the US dollar could not drop any further and started buying it up like mad after selling off for all of last year.

And one lovely thing about a European sports contract is the team pays the tax. So think again, do you take $11mil to play in say LA, pay $4 mill in taxes or do you take $50mill tax free and play in Italy? I'd take that deal any day.