NBA Lockout: Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets Signs Deal to Play in Turkey
With the current NBA lockout expected to be hard-fought and long-lasting, Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets has officially signed a deal with Besiktas, a team in Turkey. The deal is rumored to be a one-year contract worth approximately five million dollars.
Williams tweeted his news, as many athletes decide to these days, saying "Just made it official, headed to Turkey...signed with Besiktas & @BJK_Basketbol."
The Nets' star point guard won't be completely alone, as he will be playing alongside Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia, who has also signed with the club.
Besiktas is clearly a foreign team that wants to make its mark on the global basketball market, snagging one of the NBA's premier point guards. Allen Iverson played for the Turkish club last season as their first attempt to bring some of the world's best athletes to their league.
However, there is no need for Nets fans to fear. ESPN.com's Marc Stein pointed out in a report last week that Williams would immediately be allowed to return to the NBA as soon as the lockout ends, whenever that happens.
Although the NBA is still considered to be the highest level of basketball throughout the world, other nations are really beginning to make their mark. If an NBA lockout does indeed cancel all of next season, than many other star players across the league may very well consider the very same situation as Williams and Pachulia.
Written by Chris Faig of Unfamiliar Luminary
