Turkey 168
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 […]
“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 […]
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, […]
Fenerbahçe Ülker outlasts Galatasaray Café Crown, 91-88, for TBL title
BallinEurope this morning congratulates newly-recrowned 2010-11 TBL champions Fenerbahçe Ülker, who topped Eurocup side Galatasaray Café Crown, 91-88, in game six of the championship series. This marks the fourth championship for Fenerbahçe in the last five years and a defense of their 2009-10 title. Fenerbahçe’s big guns were all firing in the game, with five […]
Enes Kanter at NBA Draft Combine: “Evet” to Cavs, Wolves, Wiz; “Yok” to Raps, Bucks, Jazz
As Enes Kanter’s standing rises on mock draft boards, so too is his self-confidence, it would seem. According to The Sporting News, not only does Kanter feel his game has improved despite having to sit out a season of organized ball – “I worked on my shot, on my face-up game and I think I […]
On five prospects in the Nike International Junior Tournament
Running in parallel with the 2011 Euroleague Final Four is the Nike International Junior Tournament, featuring eight teams from around the world (okay, seven from Europe and one from China, technically) packed with youthful prospects moving up the professional ladder. Below, BallinEurope enumerates a few of the players who’ve piqued the interest. And no, this […]
Playing with money: Are some European NBA players worth it?
Finally blessed with a bit of time to peruse ESPN’s compelling financial stats as presented in its magazine’s “All About the Money” issue (check them out if you haven’t already; big numbers are fun!), BallinEurope just couldn’t help, well … noodling around with the numbers some more! Over at the big network’s Chicago Blackhawks blog, […]
“Do you know who I am?”: AP has more on Iverson’s Lamborghini impoundment
More details have been released about Allen Iverson’s recent conflict with Atlanta police and the subsequent impounding of his Lamborghini last week – or, according to the man himself, one of his 11 or so Lamborghinis. The Associated Press is today running a story in which law enforcement officials describe Iverson as “angry” to “irate” […]
Kentucky’s Josh Harrellson plays Enes Kanter for a day
A brief note from University of Kentucky basketball land and an interesting trick from coach John Calipari’s tactical bag: At practice, the Wildcat coach “instructed the team to call Kentucky’s lone senior Josh Harrellson ‘Enes Kanter’ for last night and all day” in the leadup to the Kentucy-Ohio State NCAA tournament game on Friday night. […]
Iverson to return to Turkey on Monday
Finally, some news of Allen Iverson’s return to Beşiktaş Cola Turka! ESPN.com reports that A.I. is expected to receive clearance from Dr. James Andrews to rejoin the Turkish side after a checkup on his progress from rehabbing after discovering a growth on his leg. “He’s going to start rigorous training as soon as he has […]
March Madness: Taylor, Kilicli, Harris, Somogyi headline Euros in NCAA tourney day one
You may have heard that across the ocean, they’re tipping off something called The NCAA Basketball Tournament, a.k.a. March Madness. BallinEurope naturally has one eye on The Big Dance with feet grounded on The Continent. Happily, Europe is decently represented in the tournament and, after looking over the rosters, BiE definitely now has installed his […]