When it comes to NBA players signing in Europe, Brian Shaw has been there, done that

Brian Shaw: Old-school Europe

Josh Childress signed a three-year contract with Olympiakos in Greece; Nenad Krstic is leaving the New Jersey Nets to play for Triumph Moscow. The Warriors’ Andris Biedrins was wooed by European teams before re-signing. Delonte West is supposedly drawing interest, and Michael Finley said he turned down an overseas offer.

Is this the start of a trend? Well, it’s not the start of anything.

Twenty years ago Oakland-native and current assistant coach for the Lakers Brian Shaw left the Boston Celtics after his rookie season to play for Il Messaggero (now Virtus Roma) in Italy. At the time it was virtually unheard of for an NBA player _ let alone a starter on a playoff team _ to head overseas. Danny Ferry also played in Europe that season because he didn’t want to play for the L.A. Clippers coming out of Duke.

Not only did Shaw excel in Italy, he wanted to stay there and play a second year. Maybe more. But the Celtics sued Shaw, and forced him to return to Boston for the 1990-91 season.

If anyone knows about the European basketball experience, it would be Shaw. Here’s what he had to say:

His initial reaction when he heard Josh Childress had signed with Olympiakos in Greece:

B.S.: "I thought the Atlanta organization was probably shocked. I’m sure that wasn’t something they anticipated happening. Probably came out of the blue and really surprised them."

On the possibility of NBA players signing overseas becoming a trend:

B.S.: "If the money is available and it’s competitive _ and especially at this time when the dollar is so weak internationally _ it’s a definite possibility more players will go. When you have competition it’s great. From a player’s standpoint, it’s good because it’s given (NBA) owners more competition in bidding for the services of players. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. For years there wasn’t any competition so the owners had the ultimate leverage because there wasn’t anyone going against them for players."

Advice to players going over:

B.S.: "You have to be open to the fact that you’re going to experience something totally different and foreign in terms of driving, going to the grocery store, products you’re used to seeing. Those things are different. But the bottom line is it’s basketball. And basketball is an American game and basketball is basketball regardless of where you play it. You’re going to be playing less games than on an NBA schedule so economically if you’re in a city you’re comfortable in and the money is comparable or better than it makes sense."