Hoops

Josh Childress leaves Hawks for Europe

"Imagine once there are like 5-10 really strong teams in europe with several players each who could play in the NBA, the European club championships will be awesome to watch."

Olskool, I am all for that happening. In fact, I don't think we are very far from that now. But I don't want those teams to be the SAME 5-10 teams year in and year out.

I'd like to see highly competitive leagues in North and South America and Europe, with a world club championship held every so often for the top couple of teams in each league. Say the top 4 Euroleague teams, the 4 NBA conference finalists, the best two teams from South America (say the Brazilian and Argie champs) and best two teams from Asia (there would have to be some type of qualifying tournament).

Quote from anon #195096:
"Why wouldnt this prompt the NBA to expand and have a Euro Division??"

A few reasons, but one of the biggest is the price of jet fuel! It's a long way to fly to play one or two games of basketball! Not to mention jet lag.

Also if the NBA were going to expand into Europe, they'd have to cull the number of teams in North America substantially. You need to play every team at least once to realistically say they are in the same league as you (!!!) and the season is long enough without adding more meaningless games to the schedule.

I'd prefer the NBA to stay in North America and to see a revived world club championship in the non World and Olympic years. But once again you would be pushing athletes endurance and would probably have the same problem with stars not wanting to play the extra games.

In response to another anon: Although Europe is only just starting to offer the big money to basketballers, the only way is up for them, with the $US in decline. Lets not forget that Americans don't have a mortgage on mega-money. There are a LOT of cashed up Euro businessmen more and more willing to bankroll sporting teams these days. Look at all the Russian cowboy capitalists...

Olskoolgamer, are you sure this will be good for basketball? I'm not wanting to particularly protect the NBA, but I much prefer the salary cap system it offers to what Euro soccer leagues offer. When there is no protection for smaller market teams, they just end up making up the numbers. The English Premier League is a prime example. I followed that for years, but I just don't have the interest anymore, because there are only 4 clubs out of 20 that have ANY chance of winning the league every year.

TR, isn't that the appeal of most Euro contracts...tax free?

I believe I read that somewhere( which doesn't mean it is always true...)

Strange enough, if you end up with the NBA lacking in imports, then you're just calling the NBA a "seniors" division for College ball.

There's nothing wrong with players moving to Europe, considering Andersen has already won more titles and made more cash then he would have done with Altanta PERIOD, I'm glad he's making his money.

Bout time the immortality of the NBA had its arse kicked.

Despite new age players like Kobe & Lebron, there's just something about 80's/early 90's ball that was better.

I should probably finish off with some quote about wheels spinning or sands in an hourglass... but can't really be bothered.

This is definitely a decision that will make Stern and the NBA owners sit up and take notice. If the decline in the $US compared to the Euro is permanent (likely to be the case) then there will be more of this and the NBA's once unassailable identity as the world's best league will well and truly be under threat.

I don't see Stern and others responsible for the NBA brand wanting to let this happen though. That means the next collective bargaining agreement is likely to net the players a bigger slice of the money pie.

So the next question is: can all 30 NBA teams afford the escalating pay scales necessary to stop players leaving for Europe? Some teams may not, and the NBA may be in for a period of contraction.

In the long run though, I don't know that the NBA can stave off the competition from big Euro teams. Many NBA teams have a strong brand, which will help them, but money talks and in time I think big Euro teams will come to rival them.

So in 15 years we may find that world basketball looks a lot more like world soccer. where there are a number of competing national leagues, with several big name clubs, all vying for the best players.

Look for the NBA players reps to start challenging some of Stern's salary cap limitations as well. In Europe there are no salary caps or protections for smaller market teams. The EU courts consider these things a 'restraint of trade' on players. Ironically, it is European laissez-faire capitalism that will likely challenge 'protectionism' in American sports!

I would prefer all this didn't happen, but I think it likely will in time.

Well that's why David Andersen is not playing for Atlanta yet either, as he is earning considerably more in Europe than what Atlanta are prepared to pay him!