Informative article. I can't see how missing shots results in lack of pay? People have already bought the tickets. Probably just some smaller franchises over-extending themselfs.

I've known (read somewhere) for awhile that it's decent money to play basketball in some European leagues.

Here is an excerpt from an article I caught on Hoopshype today.




http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/...l=2&thispage=1

That's not great money, but for an undrafted player who viewed basketball as a career first, it's definitely not bagging groceries.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

Wow, that isn't bad money at all. $130,000 tax free and all expenses paid for you. That's a lot of free spending money.

I hope these guys aren't thinking of it as just "spending money" because there's no way of knowing how long it will last. If they keep a lid on their expenses, there are a lot of things a resourceful young ex-player can do with a few hundred thousand he's stashed away, like go back to school or start a business. It's not like the NBA, where most guys can afford to be somewhat reckless with their money and still be in great shape when they retire.

Very true lurker. To play your game and make/save $800,000 before the age of 30 is very interesting. You can set up yourself and your family if spent wisely.

Although the player in the article I posted doesn't play major minutes, he is in one of the best leagues. A guy like Rodney Billups in Latvia may not have the opportunity to make as much. Although he was one of the most popular players there in his rookie season, so perhaps he has a big payday ahead of him.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

Very true. I was actually going to put "spending/saving/investing money" in my original post, but figured I'd just lump it all in as spending money.

Hopefully with that much dough and very few expenses, some if not most of that money finds its way to the bank, etc. Especially considering how little job security is involved in professional sports.

There is certainly a lot of pressure on American players playing outside the US, particularly because the number of foreign players allowed in those leagues is limited... so if the American is not doing great or the team losses, the first thing that will happen is many times the American getting cut, and another one will be hired to replace him.
There are lots of American players playing in Europe and South America, and they are some of the best players of those leagues.

About the article, well John Celestand is exaggerating. He must have had a horrible personal experience. He certainly didn't have a bright career in Europe. If I am not wrong, he is playing in the weak German league right now.
There are lots of American players who have a succesfull and happy stay in other countries. Some of them even nationalize and play for those countries.