Olympiakos Is Considering Two-Year $100 Million Deal for LeBron
LeBron (photo. Mannion)When the initial reports first came out about LeBron (and Kobe, mind you) going overseas for some preposterous paycheck, it seemed like these two global icons just thew out the highest number they could imagine being paid.
But it turns out that those astronomical figures might exist outside of LeBron’s imagination. The Greek club Olympiakos, who just inked Josh Childress to a three-year, $20 million deal, is reportedly mulling a two-year, $100 million offer for LeBron if he turns down his player option with Cleveland in ‘10-11.
At first, it sounded too ridiculous that any organization would be considering to pay one of their employees $50 million for one year’s work. But considering the revenue that the Chicago Bulls are still reaping from the Jordan years, it might not be so ridiculous after all.
But can LeBron make a transcendent impact on the European basketball community in just two years, enough so that he’s worth this heavy investment? We’ve heard stories about how the one-month annihilation of the rest of the world in 1992 by Team USA made a strong enough impact on the basketball cultures in many countries to give the sport a kickstart.
So could LeBron’s destruction of the Euroleague boost both the sport and the revenue that it generates overseas enough to make $100 million worthwhile?
Source: Ohio.com
August 7th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Simon says:
FIRST!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Justice says:
completely speechless,it would make sense business sense because we know they would make their money right back and it would be hot if the game expanded and became more like soccer in a sense that it would be tons of leagues and basketball would be going all year…
i just would want to make sure that 2k10 includes all the foreign leagues into the game lol..other than that this would be some cool shytt and it would make me want to travel even more…
August 7th, 2008 at 9:15 am
the_baconator says:
absolutely it could. lebron’s a beast and i don’t doubt he’d aboslutely OWN all of euroleague. plus, when you consider that many times nba players are more popular than the euroleague players (see: entire crowd chanting kobe’s name during the u.s. scrimmages), olympiakos would definitely more than make up that 100 mil
course, the major downside to this is it switches the cavs from darkhorse nba finalists into bottom-dwelling, first round exiters. maybe if olympiakos could do a sign-and-trade with lebron…? are euroleague/nba trades allowed?
August 7th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Kobeef says:
Absolutely - this offer is about more than Lebron - it is about deciding which league (Euroleague or NBA) is going to be the first global league.
If Euroleague can generate enough money to lure the best players in the game they can also demonstrate they have a strong enough organization to manage a successful global basketball league (which Stern is trying to accomplish by adding teams in London and Italy)
It won’t happen next year but if the Euroleague (Worldleague?) beats Stern to the punch it could be the end of the NBA. It would probably fallout the same way the NBA/ABA merger did in the US with smaller teams folding and only the most successful teams carrying-on with the new league (NY Knicks, LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors)
August 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
nicole says:
i heard an interview with anthony parker about this. (he used to play for maccabi.) and he mentioned that most euroleague owners aren’t really focused on making money coz most of them are already ridiculously rich. it just gives them something to do and something to be proud of.
that said though, lebron could make them some serious money with tickets and merch.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:38 am
The Jed says:
I said the exact same thing about Childress… but this won’t happen. It really won’t. Maybe some old famous player in the twilight of his career but I can’t see this happening. Non-story of the year.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Celts Fan says:
They conceivably could make it back, but you need TONS of jersey sales and ticket sales. I think you lose $$$ short-term, but like you mentioned about the Bulls, the long-term effects of getting a guy like LeBron and the domino effect it creates (where do you think NBA guys will want to play overseas if they leave? which would be much more attractive after LeBron blazed that trail) Plus, this just about makes them a lock for every EuroLeague/Greek League title they can possibly get.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Prof. TX says:
Aside from the fact that LeBron would put up some Wilt Chamberlain stat lines now and then…
Seriously? How much money does one person possibly need? Please tell me his parents will fly to Europe and just keep slapping him until he starts the world’s biggest charity foundation with all that cash. This guy plays a game for a living, and still somehow finds a way to be greedy. It’s not like he’s curing cancer. Bill Gates and Ted Turner give away a ton of money and do alot of good with it. LeBron’s been spending time with the wrong billionaires.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Justice says:
For 50 million a year anything is possibbbble!!
If not lebron then it will probable be a second tier star,but just the fact that people are talking about it will start a hell of a bidding war and might mean stern and his goonies may have to revisit the salary cap asap…
100 million untaxed for 2 years or 20 million a year for 5 years taxed which will probably end up being 12 mill or so a yr after taxes….the nba will lose some players if they don’t find a way to pay these guys even more money…
August 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
GEE...When I say Hillshire you say Farms ...I refuse to say Go Meat! says:
Simply put. GET MONEY!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Celts Fan says:
but yes Jed, this isn’t happening. LeBron’s actually got the talent, that with some HUGE success, he could make a run at MJ (almost definitely not happening, don’t wanna start that argument, it’s such a long shot it’s not even funny, but name someone else that could even say that much. Kobe’s officially not doing it now btw.) He’s got enough $$$ that he doesn’t need to go there to get that extra money (not that I’d ever fault him if he did. That’s a MASSIVE amount of money for anyone, especially when you realize it’s not taxed and he gets a car and house paid for by the team too!)
August 7th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Justice says:
@prof tx.
i understand what u mean morally..but on the business end of things the reason why these guys get paid the way they do is because of the amount of revenue that they generate so it’s only fair that they get paid accordingly..people don’t pay u based on morals and good deeds they pay u based on how much u mean to the bottom line…these signings are mutually beneficial
and please believe if labron makes 50 million a year then whoever is paying him is seeing well over a 100 percent return..so it’s all fair game…
August 7th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Scottee says:
Let’s look at this…
If Lebron gets paid $100,000,000 Euro for two years, at the current currency rate of the US dollar and the Euro, it would come out to $154,090,090 US dollars. Because there is no tax he would get all of that. If he was to get paid $100 Million in the US, he would only see about $80 Million after a 20% (at least) tax on his income.
To break it down: Playing for the Euro he makes $154 million plus. Playing for the US Dollar he makes $80 million (plus endorsements). That’s $74 Million dollars in difference in only 2 years.
Leaving your country for simply more dollars can be looked down on, but with the way the world is catching up with the United States and the way technology is improving, Lebron playing in Europe, as long as he’s still on TV, might not be a bad move as long as the US can work out TV deals with European companies.
With all that said, if the NBA looses Lebron or another big name to Europe, combined with the recent blows it’s sustained from the referee scandal, it could be disasterous.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Celts Fan says:
@Prof TX, he needs however much $$$ he wants. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Don’t act like you’d be arguing that they’re overpaying you in that situation.
and LeBron has been hanging out w/ Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, so he’s hanging with the right billionaires.
and who’s to say that he wouldn’t use some of that $$$ on charities. Pretty sure he definitely would use some, but even if he didn’t, it’s his money, he can do what he wants with it just as much as you can do whatever you want with yours. Just cuz his wallet is fatter than all of ours combined doesn’t mean anything. You’d like to think he’d do some charity stuff, but he doesn’t have to just because he has money.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:57 am
D.I. Dollar says:
@ Prof Tex
Where did you ever read that Lebron does not contribute to charities or is greedy?
Why would a grown ass man need his parents to fly to Europe to slap him everyday for making a lucrative business decision as an adult? What do his parents have to do with any of this?
Lebron, Kobe, whomever this article may apply to…GET MONEY FUCK HATERS(period).
August 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Mike says:
don’t be so sure that Lebron would score Chamberlain type of points in Europe…the game is a little bit different there.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Celts Fan says:
@Scottee, 2 things:
1. That figure is converted to US dollars, it’s not 100M euros.
2. He’d be taxed WELL OVER 20% in the US. It’d be about 50% considering the tax bracket he’s in (assuming he’s not in FL which has no state income tax, so would be closer to 35-40% there.)
I agree w/ your logic though.
US: he makes about $50M and still has bills to pay
Greece: he makes $100M with house and car included.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Jay26th says:
Show me the money
August 7th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Michorizo says:
It would ease the burden on LeBrons shoulders to bolt directly to New York or Jersey immediately from Cleveland. Why not go Euro for a couple of years and then ease back into the states at the prime of his career?
August 7th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Jimmy says:
I think these teams (olympiakos,Moscow) have some dark secrets probably selling guns, gambling, or something. They just come out of nowhere with this money. This might be worse than the Donaghy scandal. But Bron’ still getting paid. Oh yea and they include house and a car. These teams are probably owned terrorist groups and mobs.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:17 am
shake&bake says:
I wonder if Kobe would consider a big offer towards the end of his career to go back and play in Italy for a year or 2 since he grew up there.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:19 am
JCarr says:
CHECK POST 20!!!!!!!!! ITS REALLY TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
florida_evans says:
….or selling mail order brides that look like Leelee Sobieski.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:22 am
AB_40 says:
LeBron yes Kobe I wouldn’t know he’s a little quiet at times. LeBron would come with an entourage and everything. Ask one of his old akron boys to play with him and he’s in. This would rock the whole basketball world… but it’s 2 years away… a lot can happen in two years. Imagine if by then another team would make a run at D-Wade for them to play against one another in the same leauge 5 times in the season and 7 games in the playoffs. That would be amazing for the sport of basketball and european basketball. And just TERRIBLE for the NBA
August 7th, 2008 at 10:25 am
JCarr says:
@ Post 20—–> I AGREE
August 7th, 2008 at 10:28 am
that's whats up says:
what the hell would I NOT DO for 50M a year???
short of turning male tricks, I’m down 4 whateva
August 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Celts Fan says:
@post 26, if they put $50M in cash in front of you, you’d do that too.
@Post20, there are tons of “rumors” (the same way John Gotti being in the mafia was only a rumor or the Sonics moving to OKC was only a rumor 2 years ago) that some of these owners are mob guys who made their $ that way, but as long as you don’t get the scandal you had in the Italian Serie A, it doesn’t really matter.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Celts Fan says:
*I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of that stuff relating to the guys at Olympiakos though.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Scottee says:
Celts,
Thanks for the corrections.
Lebron should claim residency in Florida just for the tax breaks…
August 7th, 2008 at 10:49 am
that's whats up says:
no doubt, celts, no doubt
August 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
YOUNGFED says:
The Question I ask yall. Is Money worth more than a Ring? Most players with doe would say no. However it maybe different in Lebrons case since he wants to be a billionaire.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Celts
Let me see….Immortality(championships) and alltime braggin’ rights or 50mil (if I already rich).
‘SHOW ME THE RING PIMPIN’
But thats just me.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Celts Fan says:
why can’t he get both? If he doesn’t in Cleveland in the next 2 years (which I wouldn’t rule out, remember, “a LeBron James team is never desperate,” until, of course, there’s a good friend/rap ICON AND Nike, along w/ overseas billionaires throwing boatloads of ca$h at him)
If he goes to Greece, grabs that $100M, then comes back, he’s still only like 28 or 29 when he returns to the NBA. Plenty of time to do both, as long as he’s okay dismissing the EXTREMELY SMALL (i can’t make this big enough to get the point across) chance he could become the GOAT.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
doc says:
Hell yeah money more important than a ring.You see all them old timers who go broke pawn the shit out them rings.If I was Bron Id haul ass faster than you can say cha-ching.Go average a point for every mil you make this year.You earned it Bron.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Michorizo says:
Most players with doe say that because it is the right PR thing to say. That’s like asking President Bush if he likes minorities … in front of TV he loves us but behind close doors ….well we all know
August 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Celts Fan says:
i agree w/ you youngfed, I’d do that too, just saying, when that amount of money comes out and it’s so ridiculously short-term to get it, you can’t rule out anything.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Celts Fan says:
*I’d do that too if I was already rich as ‘Bron. I’d be right there w/ Josh Childress if I was in his shoes.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
doc says:
Some people aint just going at this money for they lifetime.Dudes like Bron can have they family set for generations like the ones who had the biggest plantations back in the day.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:12 am
YOUNGFED says:
@post#34
lmao
@Celts
It’s a huge risk, but we all know Lebron is gonna go for it. Although I doubt the Greeks really got bread like that.
By they way Dime don’t send me no more Damn Magazines. Let me know if there’s a way I can quickly cancel my subscribtion even though it’s already paid for.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:13 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Doc
You thuink his family ain’t already set for life.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am
bballinca says:
#39 there is a difference between being set for life and having your generation after generation set for life. We are talking about old money here like the Rockefeller’s, Getty, etc.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Justice says:
So there arent any champioships overseas? If labron stays with the cavs or goes to NJ i don’t know how that equals champioship either based on the cavs management and mike browns playbook i wouldn’t be surprised at all if they were a 7 or 8 seed this coming season…
Take the money and even more fame bron..it’s way more people over there anyway… the oppurtunity for advertisement money will be stupid too..i don’t see how this hurts the game of basketball at all…but stern will find a way to try to tell us that…
August 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
doc says:
@fed-Yeah his people now are set for life but Im talking about people who never gonna meet him generations later.Like bball said the rockerfellers and duponts.His money is shit money to them.Its people who are pampered from them families throughout they life but they dont know shit about the moves that got them there beforehand.If Bron play his cards right he could have at LEAST a century taken care of for his family.Thats a major move right there.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
JarrJohnson says:
With Bron, I don’t think the decision would be solely based on the money (Don’t get me wrong, 100 million is a hell of a decision maker.) He’d have the opportunity to be the first bonified international star since MJ. (On some ol’ David Beckham, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods type ish) Nike would eat that ish up cuz he’d open up a whole new target market to them. (Think Nike Zoom LeBron International/Olympiakos w/jerseys, shirts, hats, etc.) Whoever got the television rights for his games over there would clean up as well. And you know he’s gonna get a cut of all that. When he came back, he’d bring that new target market with him, generating even more income.
I say “Fu– it, go.”
August 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
m23a says:
olympiakos is owned by two young billionaires not mafia. People like making up bullshit to sound smart
August 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am
doc says:
You seen that white boy on TV with Paris Hilton,I dont know his name but his peoples are Wealthy.He was busting on Linsey Lohan saying the bitch was broke because she only worth 7 mil or some shit like that.Its a fucked up way of thinking,but if I had the power to do that for my family I would have to jump on it.You will see Lebrona James running around like Paris Hilton in 2102 getting smutted and partying not even knowing how good her ancestor was.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Jimmy says:
@ Michorizo
HAHAHA that is so true. Ese pendejo solo quire a los ricos blancos. Can the next prez. love everybody equally? Prob. not.
@younfed Lebron is not gonna go to Europe!!!! Pretty sure they dont have that bread.
@celts fan so you are saying that supporting mobs and terrorists is fine as long as we get to see bron get paid 50 milli. All those tickets and merchandise prob. go back out to the mobs.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am
DJ STEEVEE says:
Lebron did say that he wanted to be a billionaire… So this 2 year contract would help get there quicker!!!!!! Thats a 5 to 7 year NBA contract rolled into a 2 year…. plus he would still be in his prime after those two years.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
bballinca says:
Jimmy and all you other guys out there saying these guys are mobsters jsut sound stupid. Is it that inconceivable to you that there are extremely wealthy people out there that aren’t involved in illegal activities? People that make Lebron’s bank account look meager. Look at this list:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html
August 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Celts Fan says:
@Jimmy, someone’s gonna support them. Their governments are still trying to go after them, this is their legit business and is probably their “retirement” stuff. Ain’t no one in the public eye that much and still out on the streets doing hits. They already got away with it if they’re at this level. Now they’re probably legit businessmen and lucky they got away with it.
about LeBron’s setting up his family stuff, I go back to a classic Chris Rock bit. We’re not talking rich, we’re talking wealthy. “You can’t get rid of wealth. You can lose rich with a fun summer and a drug habit. … Shaq is rich, the man that signs his checks is wealthy.”
August 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Jimmy says:
@bballinca thanks for the info. i never said they were owned by mobs is said PROBABLY just making a scenario but you CANT trust what you read.
@celts fan yea now that there in nice expensive suits i guess its O.K. haha
August 7th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Jimmy and bballinca, again, there have never been rumors, that I’ve heard anyway, about the guys at Olympiakos, so this isn’t about them (at least not to me.)
@bballinca, it’s not just speculation, this is pretty well known (but unproven in court) that there are former (hopefully anyway) mobsters that own some soccer teams in Europe/Russia. I’d assume that goes to other sports too.
Hell, the Kennedys originally made their money bootlegging (and turned it into the ridiculous wealth it is now by investing it in penny stocks during the Great Depression.) It happens.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
chyeeah says:
Hey just curious…what exactly was this post referring to when they mention the Bulls still generating revenue off of Jordan? Was this in reference to jersey sales, Jordan paraphernalia, etc., or some other sort of involvement that Jordan still has within the organization (despite his commitments to the Bobcats right now)?
August 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Jim says:
I just want to point out that for European sports owners, the bottom line isn’t always the bottom line. Lots of teams lose money and its more of a pride thing to win or to show up other owners.
A lot of the top teams in the EPL, Serie A, La Liga, etc., are not in the black even with huge TV and endorsement revenue. And in that context, $100 million isn’t that out of whack. There are at least 2 or 3 soccer players who will garner $100 million TRANSFER fees in the next month. Not that LeBron is Christiano Ronaldo-famous, but these types of numbers aren’t foreign to European sports.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Jim says:
And Celts is right, but I would say it’s more than a rumor that Thaksin Shinawatra and some Serie A owners are gangsters.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Jimmy says:
@Jim yo can you use another name dont want ppl to get confused. LOL Apreciate it
August 7th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Justice says:
@Jim
Thankyou for stating that dude, the average american can’t imagine how famous some of these soccer players are,i heard jim rome say yesterday that the only way lebron can become a global icon is by winning championships like mj did..thats bullshytt!!! if lebron can get even 1/2 of the people that watch soccer overseas to watch a olympiacos bball game he will be the biggest bball star ever..
these soccer stars are huge and making way more money than the average nba player will ever see,why not take the game accross seas? basketball still has a long way to go in terms of worldwide popularity to catch up with futbol and even track and field in some places..this will be great for the game…
August 7th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Celts Fan says:
agreed Jim, that’s why, in post 27 I said, “there are tons of “rumors” (the same way John Gotti being in the mafia was only a rumor or the Sonics moving to OKC was only a rumor 2 years ago)”
August 7th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
weezy f says:
if he does it will they play olympiakos games here in the states? if it was me id take it
August 7th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Damn Yall They just took my Mayor to jail. WTF!!!! They gone be butt raping the Mayor of Detroit. lmao.
Naw but seriously thats Fuk’d Up.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
JC says:
Billionaire global icon. $50 million per in Greece lines up with the stated goal. LBJ is worth the investment, easily. Considering he hangs with Buffett and Gates, who are both huuuuuge on philanthropy (Buffett gave the Gates Foundation 85% of his fortune), LBJ will likely have his hands on a strong global philanthropic initiative. Players born in the USA will continue to feel more comfortable with the notion of playing iverseas, but I don’t think it will cripple the NBA or vault the Euroleague past the NBA in terms of prestige and celeb appeal. The NBA may feel compelled to rework the CBA, to significantly raise the salary cap or get rid of it altogether. The Euroleague provides a higher level of competition to the NBA across the board. On and off the court. See you in 2010…
August 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
bballinca says:
#55 than again John Gotti didn’t own a sports team or offer to pay a player $100 million over two years.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
doc says:
I think he should take it if its there.People always say athletes got enough money.They got enough but why not try to reach the next level.Your whole life you fight and work to move up a level then just stop because somebody gave you a lumpsum.Maybe one day Bron wants to own one of these teams instead of work for them.Really how many wealthy black americans are there.Not a lot and it wouldnt be none if people just got satisfied.Phil Knight is wealthy but the first time some kid in taiwan fuck his production line up he will chop off his hand.Nobody tells him he sold enough sneaks he should let reebok get money.I love the fact that Bron is thinking like these moguls out here(gates,Knight,etc.).If Bron should just settle with the money he got now,Bill Gates should leave that computer shit alone,The Hiltons should sell their hotels,The oil tycoons should sell to somebody else so they can get they turn.My point being the world dont work like that for everyone else so why should an athlete be content.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
JC says:
100 mil is a grip. However, it just doesnt seem sustainable. It feels like this bubble is gonna burst like the Dot.com era. Teams are gonna over-inflate the market (offer Kobe 200 mil in Italy), and then the owners will pull out when Kobe sells out every game, but they still lose money…
Its a know fact the TV deals overseas arent lucrative like here, and there is little to no merch revenue. There really is no way to re-coup the $. At least in the league here they have a plan to continue making money, there its just rich guys and small sponsorship deals…
And rich people “at play” makes sense (see AAU basketball), but when their “hobby” gets too expensive, then what?
Maybe this will change the trend, and more revenue streams will be created, but its risky — I hope so! more $ for everyone! More jobs for my hoops brethren!
August 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Celts Fan says:
@bballinca, I was just joking, and pointing out that “rumor” might as well have been the word fact (and then throwing out things that were basically facts, but not able to be completely proven at the time.)
August 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
JC says:
And Doc, maybe you can attest, what about the teams that dont pay? As an ex-ball player (law school stole my swag…) who knows plenty of pro ballers across the water, sometimes those checks can get shaky after a loss… And not to offend anyone, but isnt it pretty well known that the Greek league is notorious for not paying? Could be wrong, its a rumor I’ve heard over the years…
August 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
DJ STEEVEE says:
word #60… Like I said Lebron wants to be a Billionaire! A Billi Billi!!!!!!!!!!!! Dub Coast!!!!! + any team Lebron goes to in the next two years is not going to win a chip so might as well go overseas, come back in two years and maybe better teams will come available to him.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Celts Fan says:
@JC, yes, some of the Greek teams are notorious for not paying, but we’re talking lower tier and lower level teams. Olympiakos is an elite team in Europe from everything I’ve heard, so it shouldn’t be a problem with them (having billionaire owners never hurts!)
August 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
doc says:
@JC yeah a lot of shady teams are run over there.If your agent aint up on things you can land somewhere where they burn people for a hobby.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Luigi says:
see. what i ppl tell ya. some random Euroleague team will offer. LBJ 50 mill to leave the NBA.
DAMNN imagine the stats. 70 ppg lol n if Childress is considered a bonafide star there..what is LeBron there?
geez. the NBA would be ruined. n just be left with Kobe
i could see it now…David Sterns merger announcement
“The NBA has decided to merger with the Euroleague. We are calling this entire league now….The World Basketball Association…We have decided to bring a total of 16 teams. n join ur euroleague. and we will host the WBA Draft with a total of 243 picks in the 1st round.”
ahh yes we can dream lol
August 7th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
daquest?on says:
if i was lebron i would do it. It would work out great for lebron, the euroleague and olympiakos. First of all Lebron wants to be a global icon and what a better place than europe??? he already is an icon here, he would be even a bigger icon overthere and he will end up getting way more than those 100 million. second , the euroleague will most def sell out evry game lebron plays, they could use him in commercials, products etc. The euroleague will get way better players because just the mere presence of lebron james there will make players want to elevate their games. Olympiakos will have a boost in revenues, jersey sales, sellouts and could use his image in an olympiakos jersey for a long time. plus in like 5 years there will be a lot of white european babies callen LeBron Sakuenakis
August 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
daquest?on says:
called*
August 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
daquest?on says:
kobe could easily go too. he has lived in italy and is very fluent in italian so he could be very comfortable there.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
doc says:
Lebron Sakuenakis LOL
August 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
doc says:
Man they start throwing around 50 mil a year all them dudes gonna go.Your MVP of the 2012 NBA season-Willie Green.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
JA says:
Doubt Lebron would ever leave the NBA. I think he wants to see himself as the best NBA player ever (at least stats-wise), and he can’t do that if he bolts for a few years.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Dave says:
I’m wondering where people came up with the idea that its somehow “unpatriotic” for LeBron to go overseas. What kind of dumb sh*t is that? American executives are hired by non-US firms all the time, and most often with great perks to entice them to travel and live in the host country.
Why is LeBron so different? When you figure in the tax consequences of such a move, added to the strength of the Euro vs. the dollar, it just makes too much sense.
For those who think this is a “non-story” wait ’till it happens. LeBron will have to put up with all types of idiotic crap from the same sort of people who post here, but, again, such a move makes perfect business sense.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
bill clinton says:
NBA is in the twilight of a spiral road of deception and greed. Let Lebron go, seize the moment.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:31 am
jackass says:
there is no way this rumor is legit. dime is trying to find some bs to write about. so the readers won’t be bored.
not that it’s wrong, but whoever is believing in this kind of nonsense, god bless you!!!