NBA: Will Playing in Europe Hurt Deron Williams in the Long Run?
The New York Times ran a fascinating article Thursday morning detailing the recent journey undertaken by New Jersey Nets All-Star point guard Deron Williams, who made waves this past summer for jumping over to Istanbul, Turkey to play with Besiktas Milangaz while awaiting the end of the NBA lockout. (Allen Iverson played with the club in 2010-11)
It was a courageous move, made in the face of many other players who have publicly considered making a jump across the Atlantic to play in the European leagues, but have yet to actually do so.
Williams's Besiktas side recently tripped to Belgium to take on Dexia Mons-Hainaut in a FIBA Eurocup game. The Belgian side possessed their own contingent of American-bred players: former University of Virginia star guard Sean Singletary along with Justin Cage, who once starred for Xavier.
The 74-63 scoreline, a Besiktas loss, mattered little when viewed in light of the more enthralling story. Williams was battered and bruised by a physical Mons-Hainaut side, who forced him to a dour seven points (on three of 13 shooting), seven assists, and an alarming six turnovers.
The former Illinois star has hovered around three turnovers a game for the majority of his NBA career, but this was excessive. And it raises an interesting point? If this is the kind of treatment Williams is going to be subjected to during this sojourn in Europe, is it worth the risk of injury?
Perhaps it was cathartic for Singletary and Cage, who have seen their NBA dreams vanish. It must have been nice to cut a star down to size.
Williams acknowledged that it would take time for him to adjust to basketball in Europe, despite having "played in the Olympics" before (NY Times). He appears ready to take on the challenge, but one wonders if it is in his best interest as a player.
Just as Major League Baseball sluggers sometimes struggle after participating in the All-Star Weekend's Home Run Derby—where they were consistently swinging for the fences, sent into prolonged slumps after tinkering with their swing technique—will Williams's sojourn in Europe come back to bite him?
Williams's talent will not diminish during his time with Besiktas, but will his confidence take a hit if he is subjected to further treatment like he experienced in Belgium?
The transition to and from Europe is a rocky one. The game is vastly different, predicated upon different philosophies than the decidedly individualized ones American-bred players hone from a young age.
Josh Childress, who made waves when he jumped from the Atlanta Hawks to Greek club Olympiacos in 2008, is an excellent cautionary tale. Childress never took to Europe, despite making more money than he did with the Atlanta Hawks.
Within two years' time, he was back in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged a middling five points in 54 games in 2011-12.
This summer, Childress warned players thinking of heading abroad to pursue playing time along with lining their coffers during the impending lockout.
Aside from the myriad cultural differences Childress mentioned, can players successfully reintegrate the NBA playing style after months spent practicing something entirely different? Is a potentially devastating injury a suitable return for a little extra cash?
Childress's sentiment was shared by CBS Senior Writer Ken Berger, who, in an article this past summer, referenced former NBA player Lonny Baxter's lawsuit with the very same Besiktas club that has Williams on its books. After signing a two-year, $4-million contract with the club, Baxter eventually settled for just $181,000. This was weeks before Iverson signed with the club.
What happens if Williams gets hurt while playing in Istanbul? With the Baxter incident as a cause for alarm, Besiktas might look to squirm out of paying him what he's due. (Reports have him making $5 million this season)
Yet that money is a pittance compared to the $34 million Berger reports Williams is due to make in the final two seasons of his current contract. It's important to stay fit during the off season—numerous NFL players suffered from injuries upon returning to training camp this summer after their own lockout, lacking the necessary fitness that normally would have been gained through weeks of team workouts—but going abroad to seek out playing time looks a riskier option by the day.
Kobe Bryant, perhaps the foremost NBA icon currently playing, has been linked with a move to Italy for awhile now, but has yet to pull the trigger? Does his reticence spring from knowledge of Childress and Baxter's cases?
With Williams set to take free agency by storm in 2013—when he could command the kind of mega-deals currently enjoyed by LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade after their 2010 free agency—an injury would be the worst possible result for a player trying to establish his worth to prospective employers.
It's a lot to think about. And while they say sometimes you have to go far away to gain adequate perspective on your life, Besiktas may prove a problematic solution for the former Illinois guard years from now.
