Kevin Durant

[thirstyboots18]

Reported on NESN today:  Kevin Durant is open to playing in Europe if the lockout goes on.  Speculation is that his "brands" want him to make them some money, so why not build the brand names in the European League.

[csfansince60s]

Sounds like the NBA is going global, just not in the way Emperor "No Clothes" Stern wanted.

Screw the owners. They think that they are the Game, since they bought a piece of the Game.

If many players (marquee players, rookies, mid-level players  and minimum players) go overseas and the lockout is prolonged, I wonder if ESPN, TNT, etc. will pursue that product rather than none at all over here?

[blake]

It's obvious at this point that the players union is telling them to say this kind of stuff.  There is no way he is going to risk $100M by playing over there.

[thirstyboots18]

Just speculation on my part, but I think the sponsor companies may be behind it.  They are paying a lot of money to some of these athletes for the exposure they bring to the product.  No season, no exposure.  Playing in Europe (or China) would bring even wider exposure, or at least  exposure in new markets.