Admittedly, I was shocked when I heard that Josh Childress had accepted Olympiakos’s $32.5 million contract offer.
Certainly it is not unheard of for NBA players to hop the pond to play in Europe, but for the most part these are role players or perhaps others on the tail ends of their careers.
Though certainly not a star player by any means, Childress was certainly a solid NBA player and one of the premier sixth men in the league. At the very least, he was a player that the casual NBA fan probably had actually heard of before.
While Childress’s decision, in and of itself, does not necessarily or even probably portend a massive exodus to the NBA’s salary cap-less European counterpart, it did demonstrate that this possibility in a relatively high-profile manner.
What will likely be more important than Childress simply signing with Olympiakos will be his actual experience there. Recently, LeBron James admitted that he would consider a European offer of “$50 million a year or more.”
Though this seems outlandish both in terms of how ludicrously high his salary expectations seem to us, as well as how utterly impossible it seems for the NBA’s best young player to leave at the zenith of his career, upon closer consideration, there are many reasons why LeBron probably should spend a year or two abroad.
Firstly, European clubs do not have salary caps. Simply, this means that no NBA franchise could offer anything even in the ballpark of what European ones could propose. Moreover, it is possible that much like Olympiakos is reportedly already going to do for Childress, they could pay LeBron’s income tax for him. LeBron could potentially be making $50,000,000 straight up.
Obviously, this is substantially more than he would be making in the United States. For an athlete whose self-stated financial goal is to become a billionaire, this must be an extremely compelling selling point.
Secondly, the Euro league is not the NBDL. LeBron would not be playing in a minor league in any sense, as anyone who has seen what has happened to the US National team in recent years can attest. Although it is not up to par with the talent level of the NBA, LeBron would be playing in a professional league in every sense of the term.
If the King does truly want to become a “global icon,” it is difficult to see a better venue for him to accomplish this besides playing in Europe. Of note also is the fact that Commissioner David Stern has stated that he envisions a global NBA, with divisions both in Europe and in Asia.
Without a doubt, LeBron playing in Europe would contribute greatly to the realization of this project. Him thriving in Europe, as a person as well as a player, would do much to mitigate the concerns of American players living and playing in foreign countries. In this sense, LeBron would be taking a huge step towards a more global game.
Consider that the King is currently 23 years old. He will be 25 should he decide to play in Europe in 2010.
Michael Jordan won his first championship at the age of 28. I contend that LeBron, in choosing to spend a couple of years in Europe (which reportedly would be the length of time he currently envisions spending there), really doesn’t stand to damage his basketball legacy in any way.
Jordan retired twice, played minor league baseball, and is still unquestionably the greatest of all time. The hundred million obvious reasons aside, once you think about it, why wouldn’t LeBron want to play in Europe?
24 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
RedSox Maniac 11 months ago
I see this as something that would be amazing on so many levels for basketball and for sports in general.
A great American NBA player to divert his American career in Europe? So much you can say about it.
But one thing is usually clear when you hear of these things; America is slowly losing its status in the world, and we should better get use to it.
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Yama Hazheer 11 months ago
He might go. The Nets aren't moving to New York by the time his contract expires and the Knicks won't look too appealing. It'll be interesting to see what happens.
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Monty Singh 11 months ago
$50 million a year! I would take that in a flash, but he still needs to prove things in the NBA. If he gets a few titles and MVP trophies and has critics saying he is in the same sentence as Jordan, he will finish his career overseas and be the "global" player he wants to be, which is good for the game.
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
It's definitely an interesting offer. At this point the competition isn't even close, and is more akin to the D League, if not worse. The D league players have given team USA their most competitive games so far, and many of the best Euros play in the NBA. James would absolutely tear it up. Whether or not he would become more of a "global player" is yet to be seen. He would be losing the American and Chinese markets though perhaps gaining some European. I think the net sum means he would be losing endorsement deals. He currently makes more than $25 million a year in endorsements. Somehow, I don't think Nike would be happy with him playing obscure basketball in a undertelevised market. Beyond the initial curiosity, I don't think there will be a U.S. surge to want to see Euro-league games. He would also irretrievably tarnish his NBA legacy, and his basketball skills would get worse, not better, playing inferior competition. He won't have a title when he leaves, and getting one when he comes back is no guarantee either. That said, tax-free $50 million is a lot of money. I guess in the final analysis it depends on what is more important to Lebron: being the best basketball player in the world, or being fabulously wealthy. He's already fabulously wealthy. Also, don't count out some percentage of team ownership offer from an NBA suitor. This can effectively circumvent the salary cap.
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
1) I said Lebron would tear it up in the Euroleague. I stand by that
2) LeBron is already "global." Switching to Euroleague would not change that, in fact, would be distancing him from the part of the globe which is crazy about basketball: East Asia and the Americas.
3) Though I'm sure some coverage of his games would become available in the U.S., it wouldn't be nearly AS available, and quite frankly the product would not be particularly good. Watching Euroleague is like watching WNBA. There's a dunk once every three years. Obviously, he could improve this.
4)At core, we differ in our opinions of the Euroleague. Still think most D-league teams could seriously contend for the title. Again, a trend of good players heading over there could change that, but that would/will take a number of years (at least five).
5) Nike doesn't care who they sell shoes to or who makes them in what sweat shop. They are also the masters of advertising and could probably field a very effective "EuroBron" campaign. However, the most effective advertisement is media coverage, and I still think after the initial circus, the folks who buy sneakers (America's and East Asia) would become disenfranchised. Europeans wear loafers.
6)The line you present would be truly impressive, though he is still a long way away from an NBA title, and might be even farther away when he returns.
It's difficult to see how this would play out. His exodus would obviously change the game of professional basketball as we know it. If he was followed to Europe by a number of other Americans, some Asians, and even European NBA players, the move has the potential to launch him into a strata that Jordan himself never breathed. Then again, he could be David Beckham. I just think it would take more than two years to make all this worthwhile. If he went for five years, I think it might play out as you say.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
Kobe Bryant has now come out and said the same thing, basically, for $40-Million per year...Kobe said, "...Yes, sure, Italy, Greece, Russia. Forty million a year and I'm there, as simple as that..."
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/messages/chrono/9728567/0/0/9729768#ID9729768
...as the American dollar shrinks, the plot thickens
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Where the hell does he even mention Italy or Greece?! Don't present false quotations.
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Nevermind. I saw your link in a comment towards the bottom.
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Dustin Haley 11 months ago
It's amazing what people will believe from "anonymous" sources. There is no credibility to any these stories.
Caucasoid, your quote isn't anything close to what Kobe allegedly said, if he actually said anything at all.
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fredrick chism 11 months ago
LeBron should play in Europe a year or two to hone his skills. This may be his best chance at any type of championship. He's only playing FOR DA LOVE OF MONEY anyway. He's good don't get me wrong, but the kid isn't great, not yet anyway!
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Dustin Haley 11 months ago
Do you even watch basketball?
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Are you freaking kidding me?
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Bam Bam 10 months ago
Is there someone named "LeBron" playing soccer somewhere in the US that this guy is talking about?
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Amar Panchmatia 11 months ago
I'm as big a Cavs fan as anybody, but even I'd have to refrain from cursing LeBron's name if he left for $50 million a year. He'd have to take LESS money than what the Cavs can offer to go to the Knicks or Nets, and that would bother me a lot and really piss me off. But $50 million a year? Make that a five-year deal and you're talking about a contract that's worth a quarter billion in and of itself over the life of the contract. For a guy who already went on the record as saying he wants to be a billionaire...there you go. That's a pretty big step.
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Stove Pipe 11 months ago
Going to europe to play has everything to do with money and nothing to do with anything else. World status, competition, honing skills, etc is all bull. $40 mil for 30-40 games? come on, who wouldn't? Most would go for a lot less.
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
HaHa! I'd go for the plane ticket!
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Gregory Sharpe 11 months ago
The dollar is so far behind the Euro right now on top of the Olympiakos owners being billionaires and dull owners not millionaires and majority owners like almost all NBA owners, they could pay him up to 50 million dollars would only be about 37 million euros. But the question is will LeBron leave the country he is playing for at this very moment? Childress I can understand he makes 5 mil in a season at the most over her but he also has nothing to lose. If LeBron leaves merely for money (which he is already going to make more than he could ever spend anyway) then he better not comeback to America because I persinally will view him as a sell out. Plus i dont think Nike will want their biggest star leaving to go play in Europe where basketball doesnt get nearly the exposure or the marketing oppurtunities as it does here. Endorsement money is what will make LeBron a billionaire not a NBA salary and that endorsement money goes down the drain if he leaves, as will a lot of his fans. Pass on Greece Bron'Bron' and head to the big apple. Do you want money or fame, because NYC will make you even more famous and filthy rich, Greece will only make you rich and a sell out.
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Paul Nuzzi 11 months ago
Keep in mind, LBJ didn't go to college. Does that mean he isn't wise enough to appreciate living abroad, or does it mean that he might see it as an opportunity that he missed by not experiencing the college life(ie a chance to meet people with different opinions, backgrounds, etc...
The chance to live abroad is an excellent one, and is different than just going to china for the olympics, and if I was LBJ, I'd take the opportunity at some point. Question is when. Does he wait till he has won a title or 2, or go at the end of this contract. He may be waiting till his 30's before he gets to the finals again, at which point it may be too late. If he goes in 2010, he gets it out of his system, comes back richer in pocket and world experience, and is still just 27.
As a Knick fan, one draw back of him going to the Knicks is they may not have talent enough to win once LBJ arrives. What better a way to solve that problem. Give the Knicks(and other teams) an extra season to straighten up their rosters(almost as if he doesn't have to be part of the loosing until a team is ready for him).
As the Knicks try to get under the cap by the summer of 2010, by the summer of 2011, they will be in perfect shape to compliment LBJ with excellent youth(assuming Gallinari and Chandler are solid players at that point) and money to add a final key piece. (I know I'm stretching this a bit)
Bottom line, if he doesn't like his choices in the summer of 2010, he can wait till summer of 2011, or 2012, to see if the perfect situation exists.
I'd take it!!!!
PS.. for all those who say, he already has more money than he could spend.. Ask George Steinbrenner, or Mark cuban, or T Boon Pickens, or Bill Gates, or Ted Turner about how much money is too much. LBJ has the right to get every dime he can get and do good things with it if he wants. Imagine if Howard Hughes hadn't made all the loot that he made. america wouldn't be the place it is today.
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zions lion 11 months ago
hmm ... if he does opt to go to europe, then wouldn't he have to learn a foreign language? or with his millions, could he jus'hire full-time handlers/interpreters ... ha ha ha. it's kinda like when Beckham crossed the pond but, at least he plays in a country that speaks American (not English). has it diminished his endorsements with Nike(?)/Adidas(?)
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Robert Cenzon 11 months ago
It'd probably be helpful for LeBron to learn a bit of the language of his home country, but many Europeans speak English pretty well. Given the multinational character of European basketball, I would assume that English figures even more prominently than normal.
It might diminish his American endorsements I guess, but I would also think this would potentially be a good scenario for Nike to try to grow its brand abroad. So I don't really see LeBron playing in Europe as being too detrimental to his endorsements in this sense.
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Gregory Sharpe 11 months ago
Actually a lot of Bex's money is coming from endorsements but not from Adidas. Herbalifa among other American based companies pay out a lot of that. And he's not even gaurunteed that whole $250 million. Oh and he gets a cut off LA Galaxy's profits just for suiting up. He hasn't exactly pushed Adidas over Nike either.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
Dust,
your post isn't even close to showing that you know what you're talking about ---whatsoever--- if you know anything, at all.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Mike Cranston, Associated Press: But the league would sure be alarmed if Kobe Bryant wasn't joking when he told reporters after a pre-Olympic exhibition game: "Italy, Greece, Russia, $40 million a year? Yeah, I'm there, as simple as that."
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/26356124.html
_______________________________________________________________________________
...no apologies necessary either, Dust
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Dustin Haley 11 months ago
Well son of a....
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michael makaris 11 months ago
ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΜΑ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ winner champioship of greece
1949, 1960, 1976, 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
ΚΥΠΕΛΛΟ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ winner cup of greece
1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1994, 1997, 2002
DOUBLE
1976, 1978, 1994, 1997
ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΜΑ ΕΥΡΩΠΗΣ european championship
1997
TRIPLE CROWN
1997
stadium 11153 seats
sponsors are nike citibank bmw powerade skai(tv) opap(GREEK BETTING ORG.) catrige word rollmann(CLOTHES) avra(COCA COLA WATER)
http://www.olympiakos.gr/#/Basketball/Players/
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