NBA Players Leaving for Europe [Edit]

When the former NBA small forward Josh Childress voluntarily left the Atlanta Hawks to sign with a professional team in Greece, ESPN reporter Chris Sheridan suggests that this might be the start of a trend, (NBA players signing with European clubs, not Childress’s fro catching on as a fashion statement).

While the obvious benefits of playing basketball in the NBA include the opportunity to play against the world’s best and enjoying near unparalleled celebrity status, there are some unique factors that could draw more bona fide NBA players like Childress.  These include:

- similar or greater salary expectations in certain cases
- an opportunity to work in a foreign country
- the possibility of more playing time for non-star players

With a greater international influence in the NBA, and a stronger showing by non-American basketball teams in the Olympics, it would be interesting to see how many other players follow suit