NBA Lockout 76
NBA stars playing in Europe: What are the odds…?
First, BallinEurope would like to a couple more American players to The Continent, as Milwaukee Bucks second-round draft pick Jon Leuer has signed with the Bundesliga’s Frankfurt Skyliners to play during the NBA lockout and undrafted Colorado State University forward Andy Ogide has joined the ranks of LEB club Breogán. But as the BiE schadenfreudometer […]
FC Barcelona considers return of Rubio in lieu of Marcelinho Huertas signing
Now here’s a story BallinEurope’s been waiting for … with the lockout daily looking like impingement upon the 2011-12 NBA schedule will certainly happen, defending ACB champions FC Barcelona is talking about signing a high-profile NBA lottery pick to fill out its backcourt: Namely, Ricky Rubio. Spain-based Mundo Deportivo today reports that club officials are […]
Amidst talks with Beşiktaş Cola Turka, Kobe Bryant nets one
While attending a friendly between the Champions League finalists in that other sport – FC Barcelona and Manchester United – in Washington, D.C., Kobe Bryant was reportedly wooed by Beşiktaş Cola Turka officials into perhaps playing for the TBL/Eurocup side during the 2011-12 season in case of a protracted NBA lockout. Bryant did not participate […]
Eurobasket 2011: French, Russian NBA players insured; Joakim Noah still rehabbing
Good news for backers of the French or Russian causes at Eurobasket 2011 came out yesterday, as both national federations announced their overcoming of insurance issues related to their top stars. With certain agreements between the NBA and FIBA temporarily suspended in the wake of the player lockout in America, national squads all over the […]
“It is a fact”: Bits and bites on Deron Williams, Beşiktaş, NBA lockout
With BallinEurope temporarily stationed in the USA, the business-as-usual machinations of top European clubs and preparations of national teams for Eurobasket 2011 threaten to be lost in a squall of speculation about the NBA lockout – of which amazingly little progress is being seen, by the way. And so, BiE has a few bulleted thoughts, […]
Coming to Europe: The top five most influential American players of all-time
With seemingly no end in sight to the NBA lockout situation forthcoming, BallinEurope has to admit to enjoying the schadenfreude of the situation … just a bit. Even more exciting than the day-to-day speculation as more and more players from the big league consider their Continental options are the possibilities for the future: History has […]
Besiktas Cola Turka backs off Kobe Bryant offer … for now
If Besiktas Cola Turka ends up running with the only NBA players on their squad for 2010-11 as Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia in the wake of the NBA lockout, their fans can blame soccer. Turkey-based NTV Spor, the sports news outlet which first broke the story of Besiktas’ contract offer to Williams, is today […]
Artest agent: No on Britain, Finland; maybe on Israel, Russia, Greece, Turkey…
After capturing the blogosphere’s attention with yesterday’s reportage of Ron Artest, a.k.a. Metta World Peace, looking to options in the British Basketball League in case of an extended NBA player lockout, ESPN Los Angeles went straight to the horse’s mouth – or the horse’s agent’s mouth – to learn the truth. Said agent David Bauman […]
Ron Artest on playing in Britain: "Why not?"
Wait a minute … what happened to the Finnish gig? Today, Los Angeles sportswriter Bill Plaschke has a short piece on Mr. Metta World Peace in which he envisions himself playing for either the Glasgow Rocks or the Cheshire Jets in case of an extended NBA lockout. Key quote: “The teams aren’t good, but I’m […]
Rumor du jour: Austin Daye to Europe, possibly AJ Milano?
Could Austin Daye be the next European player to sign a deal in Europe for the 2011-12 season? Early on in the NBA lockout, Daye publicly noted his concern in The Detroit News, questioning whether “going the distance mean [canceling] the whole season? I hope not,” adding that “My main concern is getting to training […]
Report: Deron Williams to Beşiktaş Cola Turka [Update: Maybe Zaza Pachulia, too?]
Beşiktaş Cola Turka, briefly known as the team employing Allen Iverson (remember him?), has reportedly agreed to terms with another, perhaps more reliable American NBA baller. Turkey-based sports news outlet NTV Spor announced today that Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets will be joining the TBL club for the 2011-12 with an out clause, […]
Ibaka: “It would be nice” to play in Spain during NBA lockout
Add Serge Ibaka to the list of NBA players willing to suit up for a European team in 2010-11 in the wake of the lockout situation. Ibaka played for Manresa of the Spanish national league for the 2008-09 season, and the official ACB website has posted excerpts from an interview the Oklahoma City Thunderer gave […]