Not sure if anyone really paid attention to this story here, but I think this has major implications to where the game of basketball is heading. In case you missed it, Josh Childress is the 1st NBA free agent that I can remember, who has just decided to leave the league and go play in Europe.
People right now are saying “oh its just Josh Childress, he aint nobody”. But every NBA team needs guys like Josh Childress to win. He isn’t your average, over-the-hill NBA guy (Shawn Kemp, Dominique Wilkins) who gets signed by a Euro team because of his name. He’s actually pretty damn good. A solid, young NBA player who was a top 10 pick in 2004 out of Stanford.
He was a free agent and not only were NBA teams bidding for his services, but now a European club team is flexing its financial muscle and going after an NBA player. This goes to show you how gangsta the Euro is in comparison to the dollar. Childress is going to get $20 million USD AFTER taxes. Do you understand thats like 500 Euros man!!!
Childress is the 1st, but I really do not believe he will be the last. The next step in this evolution are the high school players. Because of the NBA’s rule of not drafting high school players to the pros, High School All-American Brandon Jennings is currently mulling over the decision to either, A) go to a college of his choice and play for a scholarship or B) take his high-top fade (yes buddy is rocking a high-top fade) and crazy skills overseas for a fat paycheck There are reports that he’s being offered between 5-8 million bucks (that’s like 100 Euros!!!) to come overseas and play for 1 year, then enter into the NBA draft in 2009.
In my eyes, there’s really no decision, you go get that money playa! I would go just for the cultural experience alone, but a few million bucks in my bank account wouldn’t hurt either. Why be like OJ Mayo and deal with these sleazy ass street agents buying you clothes, TVs, and giving you meal money, when you can go get some real, legit paper, learn more about your game, and improve. Do you really need time to think this over??? I would have told Alex Trabek to turn the Jeopardy music off immediately. “I don’t need to think this one over Alex. My answer, ’What is Fuck College?’”
The NBA wanted a global game and this is only the beginning. Whats going to happen in 2010 when Lebron and D-Wade are free agents? Lebron wants to be the 1st billionaire athlete, wouldn’t he reach a bigger audience playing in Europe? What if a Euro team offered Wade a huge contract to come overseas and get paid in Euros? He already has an NBA championship, don’t you think these guys would consider it? I think they’d be crazy not to.
While the dream is to play in the NBA, the goal is to setup your family for life, so that your kids’ kids don’t have to work for much, if they work at all. Have you seen the contracts these soccer players get? By 2010, there will be more NBA players following in the footsteps of Childress. Seeing that there’s tons of money to be made across the Atlantic. The better the players that go over, the higher the quality of play. I also think the more open style of play in Europe will attract more skilled players. Imagine all of the games you play being like a Golden State vs Phoenix Suns game…that’s basketball heaven to me!!!
Mark this day down on your calendar. A new day has arisen and its a sign of things to come. David Stern better watch out or he and the NBA will be ass out!!!
UPDATE: Jennings has signed a multiyear deal with a team in Italy. He decided to take the cash. His contract has a buyout clause should he ever venture to the NBA. Another bonus is that if/when he does come over to the NBA he’ll avoid the draft and be able to sign with any team he chooses as a free agent. There aren’t any negatives with this and he should grow as a person and a player. If he ever come to the NBA he should be more than ready to contribute
1 Comment
July 25, 2008 at 7:38 am
Josh Childress is a digrace to all Americans. Just like any American that loves Europe more than America. If you love other places so much then get the hell out!!! We want true Americans living in America. Not guys that just want the glory and the money. The NBA should ban Josh Childress from ever coming back. Anybody, that supports Josh Childress is un-American. Any basketball player that follows Josh Childress to Europe is un-American. Anybody that was born in America and actually chooses to go play for another country (Chris Kaman) is un-American. You know why Americans have been losing in the olympics its because we have been kind enough to let Europeans and other foreigners into the NBA. And those spies learn from us take our American money and then go home and teach their own country how to beat us (Yao Ming). I would like to see a ban of foreign players in the NBA.