On the eve of Team USA playing host nation China in the Beijing Olympics, two of the league's biggest superstars may be looking toward international play as their next option.
Both gold medal hopefuls Bryant and James, have said this week that they would listen to offers to play overseas. Im sure this news has David Stern's proverbial panties in a bunch.
Its been a few weeks since former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress decided that playing in Greece would be a better career move financially instead of settling for a league-induced cap. Since, then other mid-level players such as Earl Boykins and Carlos Arroyo have decided to jump across the water and take what they feel are better offers.
It is on this very site that a few of the writers said it was nothing for us to worry about. Those are my teammates (and we carry the BSO flag proud), but now that the pride and joy of the league has put it in the atmosphere that they would consider the foreign market, I think we should definitely take notice.
Hypothetically, what does Kobe have left to prove here on U.S. soil? He will never be able to shake the stigma of his attitude or previous legal problems. The media has a love/hate relationship with him. He has already won 3 championships, a few phantom MVP's (Yeah Nash, I'm talking about you), and his MVP award from this past season. This is Kobe we are talking about. Is it possible that his competitive nature would allow him to play against the world to prove he is the Best in the world?
As for James, he is only 23 and is already an icon. He is 5 seasons in, and has positioned himself as a Brand both domestically and internationally. So why not?
The person in position to take the biggest L is the League. How would it look that the company that positions itself as a global leader, can't maintain the services of its biggest stars? What these atheletes are beginning to figure out is that it indeed is a global game when it comes to finances and opportunity. We shouldnt be alarmed just yet, but where there is smoke, there is fire.
I think players are going to use overseas as a bargaining tool/intimidation tool. It's only matter a time before David Stern becomes Vince Mcmahon and start enforcing "no compete" clauses into contracts. He'll get away with it because Daddy ESPN doesn't want ratings-getters to play overseas.
I hear you... because at first i was thinking like the players like Bron and Wade and Melo wouldn't do it just because of how it would affect their legacy if they aren't playing against the best players which are in the NBA? You know when you get into those discussions and arguements they want to be considered amongst their peers and the guys who inspired them. Maybe a little bit of the "Legend" and "folk lure" would be lost if you didn't rock in the League. But the more i really think about it... if someone says they'll pay you 50 Mil a year or something stupid like that... I mean it has to be hard to turn down that kind of untaxed cold cash... even for the players with big bucks.
Terry you know Stern and his lawyers are probably having meetings with the US Government as we speak at Area 51 haaaa. Make no mistake about it... someone like Bron decides to bounce a lot of old white men in suites, pockets will be hurt.
Well written article
I am signing on to write for Greecesportsonline.com
Lol about the Area 51. But real talk, it would take just one of the big fish to swim and a few more will follow. Out of the 3 from the Class of 03, I see Bron being the most tempted too. He doesnt have Kobe's ego, but with the team that he has behind him, anything is possible.
100 mil 2 years
Stern and his eagerness to turn the league into his own personal dictatorship will bite him in the azz...dress codes and other irrelavant off court rules will make that overseas money look that much better...he's getting what he wished for though, he wants to get rid of the hip hop influence in the league right now..so what better way than to shipp all of those type players overseas...problem is, those are the best players in the leauge
OK, I'll give you that for $50 million a year MJ, Magic, Larry Legend, and just about anyone else would have gone overseas to play. The real question is: is anyone over going to come up with that kind of money? I'd say that other than maybe some pace like China which may be looking to stick it to the U.S. politically as much as it would want a top notch ball player, no. There arent very many teams that have the kind of money available that Josh Childress got, so the likelihood of there being $50 million per year deals just being handed out like that are is almost zero.
this is a good development. for too long players have had their livelyhood determined by others (old white men).
this puts the decesion in their own hands
Call me the china king
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