Don't diss NBA stars, for $50 million Europe seems much closer

August 9, 10:21 AMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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It's not inconceivable Kobe Bryant could walk away from the NBA

Earlier this week Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, two true NBA superstars, both indicated they’d be more than willing to listen to contract offers from teams in Europe when they become free agents.

In the wake of Josh Childress signing in Italy, and Nenad Krstic and Carlos Arroyo also signing overseas, the issue becomes whether it is realistic that some of the league’s big names will head to Europe.

The general response has been to blow off the idea, diminish it or just dismiss it as a phase the world of basketball is going through.

Not so fast.

There is a respect factor that exists in the NBA, and it is significant and undeniable. It’s so important, in fact, that it can lead players to make bold calculations and sometimes take outright risks when it comes to contract negotiations.
 

LeBron James also open to playing in Europe

Few things can incite a player more than a perceived lack of respect. Whether it’s done to them by an opposing player, an official, coach, general manager or fan … doesn’t matter. And when it comes to free agency money equals respect, plain and simple.

Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw left the Boston Celtics after one year in the NBA as a player to play in Italy. It was almost unheard of at the time, but he went over for one year before Boston sued him to return.

In other words, Shaw was a player who would have willingly stayed over. And he put it very simply, recently.

“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.”

You think the $50 million number was thrown out there by accident? Bryant and James know the best they can do in the NBA is $25-million-ish. Oh, and don't forget they'd play far fewer games in Europe in other words less wear and tear.
 

Brian Shaw: Had positive experience in Italy

There was a respect factor involved with Shaw leaving Boston. The factor was that Il Messaggero was offering more than four times what the Celtics were ($1 million compared with $225,000) at the time.

Ditto with Baron Davis leaving the Warriors, Elton Brand leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, and others. For Davis, respect came in the form of guaranteed years; for Brand it was Philadelphia’s doggedness.

The point is, they went. It’s not inconceivable it could happen on a different kind of scale _ the NBA superstar thinking he's being disrespected by the NBA in general.

Why play in this league over here when they’re offering two or three times as much in that league over there? It's a legitimate question.