Olympics: US Basketball stars admit they could leave NBA for Europe

by Dave Keating | August 8, 2008 at 01:52 am

1097 views | 7 Recommendations | 9 comments

Some really surprising comments have emerged from some of the US basketball superstars gathered in Beijing to play in the Olympics. Historically, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been the only place a talented basketballer would want to go. Indeed, it's often been alleged that these overpayed sports stars don't put any effort into international games like teh Olympics, or even into all-star games.

But some of the players in Beijing, including LeBron James, have said that things are now changing, that that they would consider going to another league, perhaps in Europe. It could just be a negotiating ploy to get them better contracts with their NBA teams, or it could be a sign of things to come. Could basketball become a truly international sport?

The superstars of American basketball, gathered in Beijing for the Olympics, spoke with one voice today and what they had to say will have caused great consternation at the headquarters of the NBA, long considered the pre-eminent league in the world and the lodestar for any player with ambition. Until now, that is.

"Growing up you can't imagine not playing in the NBA but things are changing really fast around the world. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket, business wise,'' said LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the on-court leaders of the US squad due to start its Olympic campaign against China tomorrow night. "Can I imagine leaving [the NBA]? Yes, it's a possibility."

James's comments come just days after he let it be known through surrogates he would consider abandoning the States for Europe if a club was willing to pay him $50m a year, and it emerged today he is not the only restless member of the US squad.

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gcomollo

at 13:33 on August 8th, 2008

Gregory Comollo has contributed a photo to this story.

Uwe Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:56 on August 8th, 2008

Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.

3 Musketeers Corner

at 15:28 on August 8th, 2008

With these NBA stars on their roster, Team USA will remain as the team to be beat - in any basketball competition around the world. However, while they are the team to beat, teams around the world have already proven they are not that invincible anymore.

3 Musketeers Corner has contributed a photo to this story.

Lochaven

at 15:29 on August 8th, 2008

It was exciting to see the 2 "young lions"
compete !

Lochaven has contributed a photo to this story.

Baba G

at 17:06 on August 8th, 2008

27 July 2008
Venetian Arena
Venetian Macau,
Macau

This is one of the 2 tune up games scheduled at the gambling capital of Asia. Team USA will head to Beijing for the Olympics after a series of hoop games versus Lithuania, Russia and Australia

Team USA went up against Turkey on Thursday. James was dominating as usual. He was named MVP after the game.

Baba G has contributed a photo to this story.