Comments on: Is being drafted still worth it?

By: Issues in Sports

Issues in Sports — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:46:46 +0000

The NBA is third in popularity and the top salaries are higher than the NFL and on par with MLB.

By: Shilas

Shilas — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:58:55 +0000

Another example of NBA arrogance, to every player they type: Years pro…

That shows not how many years the player plays professional basketball, but how many years he plays in NBA… Therefore Arvydas Sabonis when he entered NBA with 14 years of professional basketball experience (he started in Zalgiris at age 16, and entered NBA at 30) was a ROOKIE!

Therefore Euroleage is just an amateurs league according to statistics (of NBA).

By: Ball in Europe, the European Basketball Blog » Blog Archive » On the differences between American and European basketball

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:58:25 +0000

[...] situation has changed a bit more for the worse for some of Europe’s top clubs. Christophe’s “Is being drafted still worth it?” examines a crucial financial consideration for any European taken up by an NBA club past, say, [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:48:52 +0000

two words JOSH CHILDRESS! hahahahaha! end of debate!

By: The NBA Draft for Euros begins in the 2nd round : Ball in Europe - Basketball Blog

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:45:22 +0000

[...] spoke about the salary point of this already in a previous article but I tried to look at this from an NBA executive point of view today. If you draft a top European [...]

By: US High School Star playing in Europe? : Ball in Europe - Basketball Blog

US High School Star playing in Europe? : Ball in Europe - Basketball Blog — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:26:20 +0000

[...] talked already about the question if it is still worth being drafted for Europeans. And we spoke, more in a joking way, when European teams will recruit American High [...]

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:16:30 +0000

@Hersey:
Salaries in Europe are after taxes while the numbers we know are before taxes.When you add the fact, that the dollar is on a critical low this year, than even a lottery pick could be interested playing in the first three years in Europe as well, depending on the offers, as I would not wonder if some teams in Europe would make bigger offers than before if they believe in a player.

Regarding the World Champion, your answer is bogus, as they all compete in the same sport, no matter what different rules they set up, so claiming a title in a particular sport without playing against teams from around the globe is purely arrogance in my eyes.Yes, American hoops used to be the best available, but nowadays, the NBA should at least consider the fact, that some European teams could edge many NBA-teams in real competition, and due to that, may re-name the championship into the US-Canadian-Championships , which it is de facto.
Arenas is just a positive example (on the opposite side, there are probably five Ronnie Fields), what about all the players still playing in the minors without ever cashing in any big-time money, just because they wont give up their dream of playing in the NBA? Moneywise a stupid move, but when you’re heart says so, thats good other players,that means for above-average players less competition for the big money offered by big teams in Europe.

By: Can the NBA Keep Attracting Foreign Talent? | top sport blogs

Can the NBA Keep Attracting Foreign Talent? | top sport blogs — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:26:43 +0000

[...] which means that the salary being offered really does go straight to a player’s pocket. Ball in Europe breaks down the math: For example, the player drafted at No. 1 this year knows that he will earn [...]

By: Hersey

Hersey — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:18:21 +0000

Interesting article and comments. I think the strongest points are for players toward the bottom of the first round and second round who could actually make more money in Europe. Business-wise it would be shrewd but there are factors in favor of the NBA (some already mentioned.)

For example let’s look at a player like Gilbert Arenas. He was a second round pick. He got spotty playing time his first year and then exploded into a star and cashed in. The potential to make a ton of money on a contract and turn the television exposure into lucrative endorsements is much greater in the United States. The NBA is third in popularity and the top salaries are higher than the NFL and on par with MLB, which plays a season twice as long.

Will basketball ever get the attention proper football does in Europe? I seriously doubt it. How likely is it the average European would know a player from a local Euro team as opposed to someone saying I play for the New York Knicks in the NBA? The earning potential and the prestige tips the scales.

I found some salary numbers on your site and it seems the best paid Euro players earns a strong NBA role player’s salary. If I’m a lottery pick, there’s no way I make the jump to Europe. Danny Ferry did it to avoid playing for the Clippers.

Now if I’m parent with sports prodigy, I’d take a long look at Europe’s player development system. That’s an interesting topic right there.

As for the world champion question. I don’t think it’s stupid. I would like to see the NBA’s best in a mini-tourney with other international champions. But the X factor is the NBA plays with significantly different rules. So technically the NBA champ is a rightful world champ being only the league playing with those rules.

By: Alberto

Alberto — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:26:51 +0000

Teo, I meant that in Europe, the players get their salaries in time (few exceptions), and I don’t think any american player think about staying in the states ‘cos in Europe he won’t get his money. It’s more that they don’t know Europe exists before coming here, I think.
About the world champions, yes, that’s a proof of how stupid americans can be…