NBA Lockout 76
KK Zagreb: We wanted Derrick Rose (and you gossipy types should be ashamed)
Another rumor regarding a high-profile NBA player to Europe has been quashed, and this one comes with an admonishment to the gossipmongers from the club in question. Though defending Croatian champions/current Euroleague team KK Zagreb was reportedly interested in bringing over Derrick Rose (at least until the player lockout is concluded), some “misinformation” was rapidly […]
Andrea Bargnani: Don’t believe the hype about Virtus Roma, Ashley Madison and me
Well, that’ll end those rumors for the time being … Despite the fact that would-be prospective Virtus Roma sponsor AshleyMadison.com has gone so far as to design a jersey for the basketball club (pictured at right) and the Vatican itself has come out decrying the controversial choice of commercial backer, the actual raison de être […]
Pau Gasol: “I prefer European style of basketball,” won’t play for Barcelona (probably)
The ACB official website (and just about every other Spanish-language outlet for sports news) offers a lengthy piece on Pau Gasol, based on interviews with French newspaper L’Equipe. Highlighted in the Spanish league reportage is Pau’s line to the effect that “I prefer the European game in the NBA because basketball is a team sport […]
Stood-up Claudio Sabatini writes Barack Obama re: Kobe, NBA lockout
Italy-based Gazzetto dello Sport reports on a couple of developments – or perhaps more appropriately “non-developments” – in the Kobe-to-Bologna soap opera. The first bit is easy to define: Kobe Bryant, it appears, won’t be playing for Virtus Bologna anytime soon. As the basketball world awaited the well-publicized ultimate conference call between Virtus president Claudio […]
Long-time vet Bernhard Peat: “European basketball is more pure basketball”
The Auburn (California) Journal is today running a Q&A with local Bernhard Peat, an 18-year veteran of German and Swiss professional basketball. Born in Germany, Peat played mostly in his homeland throughout the 1980s and most of the ‘90s; he takes on the old standbys – the remuneration situation, the scheduling, etc. – in recalling […]
Sunday bullets: NBA-flavored European action, USK Prague beats USA, Deron Williams generally trashed, more
Your lazy Sunday just got a little lazier. BallinEurope gives you another few good minutes of clock killing in rounding up some stories for your perusal. As the NBA lockout continues – and many reckon no blinking will be done by either side on Monday, therefore necessitating cancellation of the 2011-12 schedule’s first two weeks’ […]
Revisiting the odds: Which NBA players will come to Europe for 2011-12?
After another couple weeks of speculation, hype and quotage, it’s time for BallinEurope to revisit the odds: specifically speaking, the odds on NBA players coming to play ball on The Continent in 2011-12. Once again, should note that these lines are offered at no bookmaker service and are completely arbitrary (which is to say mostly […]
Kobe Bryant coming to Italy: Bologna or baloney?
While all that Kobe Bryant-to-Beşiktaş Cola Turka talk may be long dead, the Los Angeles Lakers star could well be closer to playing in Europe than you think. After Bryant reportedly responded to offers from Virtus Bologna with “Let’s talk,” the club has organized a conference call for this evening with Bryant’s agent Rob Pelinka […]
NBA Draft expansion: What does it do to/for Europe?
Sports media and the blogosphere blew up a couple days ago, as the possibility of adding a third round to the NBA draft was reported to have been discussed as part of the ongoing labor negotiations. By day’s end Wednesday, some had publicly opined that this idea could be the “Best Thing To Come From […]
Eurobasket opener bullets: Pnini vs. Dirk, Spain's competition, Kanter's rust, more
Hours remain until Eurobasket 2011 tips off here in Lithuania. As a warmup this morning, BallinEurope brings a roundup of some chatter from around the world regarding the big tournament; in ESPN TrueHoop tradition, we’ll bring it bullet-style. • Poor Israel, one of the more unheralded teams in the tournament … not only are they […]
Metta World Peace to Cheshire Jets: “UK, here we come!”
Tweet of the week? That’s an easy one. Here’s something from Ron Artest, a.k.a. Metta World Peace, from about 12 hours ago as of this writing: “Go Jets!!!!! UK, here we come!!! Jets are the best!!! Jets are the best!!! New chant!!!!!!!!!” Yes, it turns out that one of the wackiest rumors surrounding the NBA […]
Beşiktaş Cola Turka eschewing Kobe for Kevin Durant?
Turkey-based news outlets are this morning reporting that Beşiktaş Cola Turka, a.k.a. Deron Williams’ new and Allen Iverson’s former team, is setting its sights on Kevin Durant as Kobe Bryant has not yet responded to overtures from the big-thinking TBL club. Turkish news outlet Milliyet stated that Durant’s agent Aaron Goodwin met with Beşiktaş president […]