LeBron James and Europe

[The Mattador]

Okay, let me preface this by saying that I like LeBron James and think he has made some great career moves up to this point, but something has finally come out about him that has to make me question everything! There have been reports recently that when 'Bron Bron' becomes a free agent in 2010 that he would be open to playing basketball in Europe for a few years for the cool price tag of $50 million per season.

His reasoning: he wants to establish himself into a global brand and achieve his goal of becoming a billionaire.

My first problem with this is, what has he done in the NBA?! He needs to win a championship there before he tries to go expand his global brand. He hasn't even won an MVP! Hell, he hasn't even won a game in the NBA finals! I just don't understand where he's coming from there...

The next thing: did Michael Jordan ever have to play one quarter in Europe to make himself a global icon/brand?! NO! He did it by winning in the NBA...period. Also, doesn't being on the NIKE payroll give you global exposure?!

Lastly, I can't believe that someone with a two-story closet has an ambition of becoming a billionaire. I think goals are great, but this is the wrong message to be sending to young people. Money isn't the measure of a person and it can't buy you happiness!

'Bron Bron' has always been regarded as mature for his age, but I think he's finally showing his age with ridiculous talk like this...

[mike_houghton]

really cause Kobe is saying the same thing. How did he do against the celtics? How long did he go before he won his mvp? Who was on his team when he won those championships? Who was on his team this year? Good now that we are done there, who was on Lebrons team when they went to the finals? Who was on his team when they took Boston to the last few minutes of a game 7? I dont know your stance on Kobe but hes the only one who is nearly(if not more) popular then Lebron and he wants to go to Europe too. Hes possibly going to opt out of his contract to do it.

If someone offered you 50 million to play in europe you wouldnt take it? Im the biggest Cavs/Lebron fan around and seeing him play for anyone other then Cleveland would probably make me sick for a while. I also respect the fact that he needs to make his money. The most he could get in the NBA is what 23-24 million? 50 million a year to play a game he loves and it will help expand his brand.. why wouldnt he?
Hes been in the league 5 years.. hes done this
Quickest to 10000 points
Rookie of the Year
4 time All Star
2 time All Star MVP
4 Time All NBA Team
2 First teams
2 Second teams
Bronze Medal Olympics 2004
Bronze FIBA World Championship
Gold FIBA American Championship
Heck im done typing these heres what hes done
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_LeBron_James



Whats wrong with money? Are you against it? Do you realize how much charity work he does in his community? How much money he has given? What is the wrong message? That if you have millions of dollars you should save it? He has two kids.. both of which he takes care of and cherishes. How many pro atheletes have custody.. or even care about all their children? That doesnt strike me as a wrong message.

And the Lebron has been big internationally for years. Jordans didnt get huge until Barcelona.

[The Mattador]

I also respect the fact that he needs to make his money.

Yeah, because that 90 mil he got from Nike his rookie year has left him hurting.

The most he could get in the NBA is what 23-24 million? 50 million a year to play a game he loves and it will help expand his brand.. why wouldnt he?

I know, that's chump change, right? Like Latrell Sprewell said, he can't feed his family with that kind of money...

Whats wrong with money? Are you against it? Do you realize how much charity work he does in his community? How much money he has given? What is the wrong message? That if you have millions of dollars you should save it? He has two kids.. both of which he takes care of and cherishes. How many pro atheletes have custody.. or even care about all their children? That doesnt strike me as a wrong message.

And the Lebron has been big internationally for years. Jordans didnt get huge until Barcelona.

There is nothing wrong with money, but it's not like dude is hurting for cash and Europe is finally going to pay him what he's worth. He makes so much money off of endorsements that he doesn't need the salary he makes in the NBA. I never said he wasn't charitable or didn't take care of his kids. I just said that he needs to win a championship in the NBA and win an MVP and then he can go off and conquer the world; which really proves nothing to me as Euro-comp is good, but it's not the NBA. There's a reason why the best players from other countries (Gasol, Dirk, Yao) come to play in the NBA...

As for your Jordan argument, that's trash, plain and simple. Jordan is so much more (bigger) than shoes. You're disrespecting him with a comment like that. Jordan's done TV, movies, endorsed products all over the world and done all while only playing in the NBA.

Finally, who's talking about Kobe...to me, he's proven himself in the NBA and can do whatever he wants. He's won three titles, an MVP, and scored 88 points in a game...LeBron still needs to check some things off of his list...

[VelvetGuru9]

I respect the fact that either player wants to opt out to play in Europe. I think there are a lot of things we've yet to see from this and one is the fact that the NBA is going to have to get rid of the salary cap to compete with these clubs. It's not going to be a good thing to lose your superstars to that league but if they're willing to pay, you've got to start to match it. Unfortunately, the small market teams will be hurt by that.

The other thing that may come from this is that we may actually see for the very first time ever, a league where the champion might be from outside the US. I would love to see the NBA crown their winner and then have a second championship against the European/Asian winner. It would promote the game even more than it's promoted right now and in a region where growth is certain and that's going to be a good thing financially for the league.

We've already seen how Kobe is being mobbed at the olympics, so we know the star potential of the NBA will attract fans. Fans with money.

Besides, if we can get rid of some of those players then the Heat can win it all again with D-Wade leading the way.:laugh:

[mike_houghton]

Yeah, because that 90 mil he got from Nike his rookie year has left him hurting.



I know, that's chump change, right? Like Latrell Sprewell said, he can't feed his family with that kind of money...



There is nothing wrong with money, but it's not like dude is hurting for cash and Europe is finally going to pay him what he's worth. He makes so much money off of endorsements that he doesn't need the salary he makes in the NBA. I never said he wasn't charitable or didn't take care of his kids. I just said that he needs to win a championship in the NBA and win an MVP and then he can go off and conquer the world; which really proves nothing to me as Euro-comp is good, but it's not the NBA. There's a reason why the best players from other countries (Gasol, Dirk, Yao) come to play in the NBA...

As for your Jordan argument, that's trash, plain and simple. Jordan is so much more (bigger) than shoes. You're disrespecting him with a comment like that. Jordan's done TV, movies, endorsed products all over the world and done all while only playing in the NBA.

Finally, who's talking about Kobe...to me, he's proven himself in the NBA and can do whatever he wants. He's won three titles, an MVP, and scored 88 points in a game...LeBron still needs to check some things off of his list...

And Lebron isnt bigger then shoes? Hes got Jerseys too... again check when Jordans image really took off internationally. It wasnt until after the 92 Olympics that he.. and the rest of the NBA became not just national Icons, but global ones. Lebron has done tv, Lebron has endorsed products all over the world. Do you have any idea how big he and Kobe are around the world?
And yet you take a man like Kobe and say its alright for him to do what he wants? He won 3 titles with Shaq. He got an MVP in his 12 season... and then tanked in the finals.

[EmperorNorton]

I'd like to know which European club is supposed to pay 50 million a year.
Even the top soccer players don't earn that much and soccer is a lot more popular in Europa than basketball.

A list from last year showing what soccer clubs pay their top stars:
Ronaldinho (Barcelona): 29,5 Mio $
David Beckham (Real): 29,1 Mio $
Ronaldo (Milan): 23,4 Mio $
Wayne Rooney (ManU): 17,2 Mio $
Michael Ballack (Chelsea): 16,8 Mio $
Thierry Henry (Arsenal): 15,8 Mio $
Zinedine Zidane («Real»): 15,6 Mio $
Fabio Cannavaro (Real): 14,6 Mio $
John Terry (Chelsea): 14,3 Mio $
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool): 14,2 Mio $

[absolutvt69]

Here's what the ESPN article says regarding the money:

"James' current contract expires after the 2010-2011 season, but he can opt out after the 2009-2010 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year.

The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place.

While $50 million a year seems outlandish, it is within the realm of possibility, considering the reported $250 million contract David Beckham received two years ago to join Major League Soccer, the $33 million Michael Jordan was paid by the Chicago Bulls for the 1997-98 season, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap. "

[mike_houghton]

I dont know where it was at.. Ill look it up later, but I read an article that pointed out that The Cavs would be able to offer the most money due to a bunch of reasons. The only things that could really get him to go would be the bonuses to his endorsement contracts and the extra limelight from playing in NY or LA

[The Mattador]

And Lebron isnt bigger then shoes? Hes got Jerseys too... again check when Jordans image really took off internationally. It wasnt until after the 92 Olympics that he.. and the rest of the NBA became not just national Icons, but global ones. Lebron has done tv, Lebron has endorsed products all over the world. Do you have any idea how big he and Kobe are around the world?
And yet you take a man like Kobe and say its alright for him to do what he wants? He won 3 titles with Shaq. He got an MVP in his 12 season... and then tanked in the finals.

You're kind of making my point here for me...LeBron doesn't need to go to Europe for any reason other than money and he's so filthy rich that he doesn't need the money except for his personal goal of becoming a billionaire and I just think that's stupid...

[mike_houghton]

well 1 you compared him to Jordan and then said he hasnt done anything.. so that was what I was defending.
2. So what if he wants to make money? Hes not stealing it... hes not hurting anyone by going there. If the fates blessed you with a talent that could make millions upon millions I doubt we would be sitting here having this arguement.

[The Mattador]

I didn't compare him to Jordan...I just said if he wanted to be like Mike, he wouldn't have to go to Europe to do it. Anyway, let's get it out on the table that you are a die-hard Cavs fan and be done with it...you would defend 'Bron Bron' no matter what...at least until he puts on the uniform of my beloved New York Knicks...

[mike_houghton]

lol attacking me instead? oh wow im a cavs fan. I can still remain impartial.. Ill be the first to point out his faults.. and the faults of the team.
You did compare him to Jordan, and instead of continuing the discussion you want to bring in my fanhood. I countered your points and you dont respond so we can leave it at that.