More and more quality NBA-ers are coming to play in the Euroleague
More and more quality NBA-ers are coming to play in the Euroleague
NBA players are considering more and more Europe as an attractive target. European competitions, especially Euroleague are the equivalent now of what Chinese league started to become 10 years ago when they added Stephon Marbury. It was the first significant move when a famous player who could continue to play in the NBA has chosen another league where he can be a “god”. Let’s not forget the Chinese have built a statue in honor of former NBA star.
In Europe, the number of ex-NBA-ers started to grow year by year, but they were not big names. Last season was actually the first one when we had in Europe 3 real NBA players: Brandon Jennings (Zenit Sankt Petersburg), Sean Kilpatrick (Panathinaikos) and Derrick Williams (Bayern Munich).
Even if the summer is long and many teams are still negotiating contracts you can see the fever of new trend: adding more and more quality NBA players who will come to join Euroleague teams. CSKA Moscow already added Kostas Koufos and will sign Ron Baker or the NBA champion Jeremy Lin. Olimpia Milano is getting rid of Mike James and James Nunnally to make space for veteran Shelvin Mack and maybe another NBA-er.
F.C. Barcelona hit the market offering a huge salary for Nikola Mirotic and the club was interested as well in Paul Gasol. Bayern Munich has lost Derrick Williams who has joined Fenerbahce but the German powerhouse is bringing in Greg Monroe. And let’s not forget about Panathinaikos who will count with ex-NBA player and Chinese league scorer Jimmer Fredette and as well with Wesley Johnson.
The main issue is the growth of basketball on any level in Europe (financially, popularity etc.) and this is the only reason for the flood of the players leaving the NBA to sign in Euroleague, which is seen more and more as a better alternative for many Americans to rebuild their basketball career.
Gratian Cormos
More and more quality NBA-ers are coming to play in the Euroleague
