By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | August 10, 2008
Hey, NBA, it's time to be very afraid.
After years of seeing the league pluck the best international talent - from Arvydas Sabonis to Toni Kukoc to
Manu Ginobili to Yao Ming - European teams could soon return the favor in a major way.
Imagine Kobe Bryant starring for Italy's AC Milan or LeBron James dunking for Greece's Olympiakos. It's truly possible. "I'd probably go," said Bryant, who will be a free agent next summer. "Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that."
What Bryant would "probably go" for is a deal paying about $50 million a season. ESPN.com reported last week that James would strongly consider playing overseas if offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." ESPN also reported that CSKA Moscow and Olympiakos have already contacted James, though nothing has been discussed monetarily.
A contract for $50 million American would be about 32 million Euros, and considering the strong euro vs. the weak American dollar and that European teams have no salary cap, it is not out of the realm of possibility. James simply said, "Wow," when asked about possibly making $50 million in Europe and said he'd "
absolutely" consider it.
"We'll see what happens," he said with a smile.
The NBA's European scare began when Hawks reserve forward Josh Childress signed a three-year, $30 million deal with Olympiakos late last month. Other NBA free agents leaving for Europe include Carlos Arroyo (Israel), Earl Boykins (Italy), Primoz Brezec (Italy), Nenad Krstic (Russia), Bostjan Nachbar (Russia), Carlos Delfino (Russia), Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain), and Jorge Garbajosa (Russia). Also, 2008 McDonald's All-American Brandon Jennings is going straight from high school to pro ball in Italy since he is not eligible to enter the NBA draft until after one college season.
But it's one thing to sign Childress and another to get Bryant, who actually spent a large part of his childhood in Italy while his father, Joe, played pro basketball there, and who speaks fluent Italian.
"Because I grew up in Italy, it has more significance to me because I'm more familiar with it, I've been there, and I still have friends there," said Bryant, explaining why he'd consider Italy. "I'm thinking about buying a house out there. It would be nothing to me to be able to do that."
American NBA stars are more comfortable overseas now than ever.
Since 2000, USA Basketball has competed in Australia, Puerto Rico, Greece, Japan, and now China for the Olympics. For the third straight year, NBA teams will have training camps and preseason games in Europe, with the Heat, Nets, Hornets, and Wizards going to Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Paris in October. The Celtics trained and played preseason games last year in Rome and London.
But there are also some cons to playing overseas. No European league has competition close to the NBA's. There is the language barrier. Most arenas are antiquated compared with the NBA's. Also, European teams have earned a reputation of often not living up to their contracts.
"As the world economy continues to grow and the No. 2 sport in the world continues to grow, I think there will be a market," said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, the ex-Suns CEO and chairman. "Now, for how many players? That's the big question. And at what price? That's another big question.
"There may be a lot of money out there, but there's not television income. I think it's a long shot to see a superstar land somewhere else."
Even so, the European interest will give NBA stars an upper hand here. It will be interesting to see what changes are made in the players' behalf when the NBA's collective bargaining agreement is opened up in 2011.
"Free agency has become a global thing because of the restrictions you have in the NBA," Bryant said. "You're dealing with that with a lot of players; a lot of mid-level players are getting offered more to go overseas. So now you're dealing with a free agent market that's a global market. It's changed the game."
Be afraid, NBA, be very afraid. James looking forward to Boston's banner night
LeBron James and the Cavaliers will start next season at the same place they ended last season: TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics, who knocked off the Cavaliers in a second-round playoff series by defeating them in a deciding Game 7 in Boston, will host the Cavaliers in the NBA season opener Oct. 28.
The Celtics will have their ring ceremony and raise their 17th championship banner before the game.
"It's going to be great," said James. "Their atmosphere is one of the best that we have in our league. It's going to be a great night for that organization once again on ring night.
"That's Game 1. It starts the season, I guess. You just get ready to play."
The Celtics will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers, whom they defeated in the Finals, on Christmas.
"I've become accustomed to it," said Lakers star Kobe Bryant. "It's a great honor to be playing on Christmas Day. It's such a long tradition.
"I'm sure everyone's excited because you kind of re-energize the Lakers-Celtics rivalry on Christmas Day. It's something that used to take place in the past. We are all happy to be a part of it."
Etc.
Enough said: USA Basketball players Kobe Bryant and LeBron James both took part in public service announcements about the Darfur conflict, but declined to get into detail about it in China prior to the Olympics. China is a business partner with Sudan and has been criticized for not using its influence to end the violence in Darfur. Asked if he had more to say on Darfur, Bryant responded, "Nothing's changed. It's time to play basketball. I'm not a government official or politician. I'll let them do that." Said James, "It's the same statement I've been having." Lakers free agent forward Ira Newble, who has been very vocal about the Darfur conflict, is not in Beijing for the Olympics. "I'm not coming to China," he said via text message. "They probably won't let me in."
Cliff's notes: Celtics newcomer Patrick O'Bryant, the center drafted ninth overall two years ago who has fallen well shy of expectations, has quietly been spending a lot of time working out with assistant coach and former NBA player Clifford Ray at the team's Waltham practice facility. Ray has helped Magic center Dwight Howard and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins blossom.
Over his head: When the US basketball and water polo teams crossed paths at the gymnasium at Beijing Normal University last Thursday, Bryant and water polo attacker Adam Wright engaged in a game of P-I-G. Bryant won in less than 90 seconds, making a dunk, a 3-pointer, and a shot over the backboard that Wright couldn't match.
Close enough: Carmelo Anthony and swimmer Michael Phelps are both from Baltimore. Anthony, who grew up in a tough section of town popularized by the HBO show "The Wire," was asked if he and Phelps were from the same neighborhood. Anthony laughed before saying: "No, but we'll claim him, though."
Footnote: The Michael Jordan shoe brand Jumpman Jordan is being worn in the Olympics by Anthony and guard Chris Paul and, oddly, the entire US boxing team . . . Dwyane Wade gave each of his US teammates and coaches a custom-made, 72-hour emergency survival travel kit from 4SURVIVAL TO GO, developed by Bostonian Shannon McGauley. It includes power adapters, a language guide, prepaid phone card, cell phone charger, flashlight, siren, and AM/FM radio, among other things . . . US women's star Candace Parker said her brother, Raptors forward Anthony Parker, would not be attending the Olympics, but her boyfriend, Kings forward Sheldon Williams, is.
The list-
Top 5 non-American NBA players participating in the Olympics:
1. Dirk Nowitzki, Germany, forward
2. Manu Ginobili, Argentina, guard/forward
3. Yao Ming, China, center
4. Pau Gasol, Spain, center/forward
5. Luis Scola, Argentina, forward
Honorable mention: Chris Kaman, Germany; Andrei Kirilenko, Russia; Andrew Bogut, Australia;
Andres Nocioni, Argentina. By the numbers
7 - Number of players on Spain's Olympic team who either have NBA experience or will be rookies next season.
Speak up
"It was like Disney World for athletes."
Kobe Bryant, about the Olympic Village in Beijing
Europe can reach for stars - The Boston Globe 
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