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Why Don't More D-League Players Go to Europe?


Many current and former college basketball players all have the same goal, make it to the NBA. Players will play in the NBA Developmental league, or what is called the D-league, in order to have the potential chance of being called up to the NBA. While this is the dream for many players, it is not always the reality. Each year in the NBA, there are roughly 40 or 50 call ups from the D-League to the NBA. While this sounds like a lot, this figure can be misleading. A lot of the time these call ups are due to a player getting injured or struggling with their performance, so they are sent down to the D-League to either rehab or get back into their rhythm as a player. While these players are rehabbing and getting back into the flow of their play, players from the D-League are called up, but only with 10-day contracts. Once these contracts are up, they are sent back down to the D-League in order to continue to prove their worth and to try and scratch their way back up to the NBA, but this time for good. Only a minimal amount of players get promoted to the NBA and actually stay there for the remainder of the year.

 The most difficult part of being a member in the D-League is the fact that most salaries range from $12,000 to $24,000 a year. Average overseas players can get a $65,000 contract with ease. Depending on the league that a player gets into, a player can make $100,000 a year. That is a much bigger chunk of money than the $12,000-$24,000 that you would get in the D-League.

 To put it into perspective, imagine playing 10 years in one league or the other. 10 years in the D-League and you end up with $240,000 at the max. On the other hand, 10 years in a solid European league, and you have a potential million dollars. That is a huge discrepancy in money earned. Even with this knowledge, players continue to play in the D-League and wait for that small chance of being in the NBA someday.

 So, do you think D-League players should quit while they're ahead and go play overseas? Or do you think they should grind it out and hope that that small bit of hope turns into a real opportunity? 

 http://sportsagentblog.com/2012/07/30/nba-d-league-vs-european-basketball-why-dont-more-players-go-to-europe/

 - Ian Brink

Comentarios

  1. Unknown7 de noviembre de 2018 a las 8:20

    I also do not understand why more players do not take their talents overseas, play with comparable competition while making much more money. All I can think of is that they would rather stay closer to home in their own country as well as they believe scouts and team representatives will take a closer look at the players on their own Developmental Team than American players playing overseas. While that might be true, at the same time not many players will make it to the NBA regardless of whether they are in Europe or the United States. Why not be realistic with yourself and maximize your profits while you are still healthy and able to play professional basketball?
    -Jack Sankary

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  2. Anónimo7 de noviembre de 2018 a las 13:38

    I think that players would rather play in the D-League because in their minds it provides them with the best opportunity to make it to the NBA. I think chasing their NBA dream is more important than the money. I feel if a player leaves the D-League for Europe they are essentially giving up their NBA dream because not many players go from the D-League to Europe and then back to the NBA. I the end I think it is more about chasing the dream than the money.
    -micah sakata

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  3. Anónimo8 de noviembre de 2018 a las 7:47

    I think that players should stick it out and play in the D-league with the hopes that one day they reach their dream of playing in the NBA. I believe that if they love the game that much than the idea of playing in the top league in the world should be a higher priority than the money. Although, I believe that D-leauge players should be realistic with themselves. If they believe that they have the talent to one day play in the NBA, then they should stick it out and stay. But, if they are honest within themselves and know that they could never compete in the NBA then they should take their talent overseas.
    -Celine Schulte

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  4. Anónimo8 de noviembre de 2018 a las 9:23

    This is a great to decision to think about. There are many positives and negatives of both sides which makes it hard to see which league would benefit a player the most. I understand that D-League players stay because the NBA will always be there dream and the D-League would be the best league to be in if you want to be seen by real NBA coaches and officials. Even with all this exposure there is no guarantee that they will make it to the league. For these reasons I think I would choose to play in Europe. I think that if someone is really meant to be in the NBA then it won't matter if they are in the D-League or playing abroad.

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  5. Unknown8 de noviembre de 2018 a las 14:41

    I think this can be a very difficult decision for many people. I think people stay in the D-League because they love the game and believe one day that they will hopefully end up making it to the NBA. When someone loves the game and has a life-long dream of being in the NBA it would be difficult to back down from the dream and go overseas. I think it should definitely be something that moe D-League players should consider, as it would probably lead to a better lifestyle for the player and possibly even the player's family.

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