LeBron "I'll play anywhere"

[Texas Longhorns]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... _anywhere/

I think that LeBron should just stay with the NBA. He won't get more spotlight over there in europe than what he gets here. He already makes plenty of money, but you never know LeBron, he hangs out with billionaires so he may just go after the money.

[ubernathan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53939/20080809/lebron_ill_play_anywhere/

I think that LeBron should just stay with the NBA. He won't get more spotlight over there in europe than what he gets here. He already makes plenty of money, but you never know LeBron, he hangs out with billionaires so he may just go after the money.

Lebron would smart to take the money and go to Europe, he truly could be the new Jordan because he would globalize basketball to an amazing extent.

[Patty Mills]

Dont be a player hater, be a player congratulator :]

[AgEnT50]

So is it just me. . .or does it seem like he's DEF leaving Cleveland when his contract expires?

- - Unless Ferry pulls off some blockbuster

[TheOUTLAW]

He said that he'd have alot of options if he opted out of his contract but that being said, why start another thread when one covering the exact same topic is still on the first page?

[rjgraca]

He said that he'd have alot of options if he opted out of his contract but that being said, why start another thread when one covering the exact same topic is still on the first page?

I agree -- all the stars have said they will play anywhere -- not just Lebron. Kobe Bryant is the only one to state that he wouldn't consider an extension until he checked out Europe. Kobe Bryant also has the most to gain by going to Europe as the following link indicates:

Olympics extend Bryant’s global reach

For now, Bryant is constructing a formidable game of leverage with his admission to Yahoo! Sports that he won’t sign a long-term contract with the Lakers until he’s explored the European market, that he’s become intrigued with the possibility of investigating an owner-player arrangement in the burgeoning Euroleague. Just a day earlier, Bryant had told Marc Spears of the Boston Globe that a $50 million-a-season contract could lure him to his boyhood home of Italy.

Ultimately, motives are never so simple with Bryant, agendas never so pure. All his life, he’s worked the angles. He’s manipulated the circumstance.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijin ... &type=lgns

Utah Jazz: Boozer not ruling out European offers

Boozer, who is eligible to opt out of the final season of his six-year, $68-million contract next offseason, said he would be open to all offers — including with a foreign team.

"As a business decision, we definitely would have to look at it," said Boozer, in Beijing as a second-time Olympian. "But it doesn't mean that you're on the next flight out."

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700249468,00.html

Wade ready to prove Redeem Team has substance

You hear Wade talk about visiting the athletes in the Olympic village, and his plans to go watch boxing, track, diving and swimming, and feel part of the Games. At the same time, the team is staying in a ritzy hotel off the grounds.

He says today’s players are not about the money. But later, someone asks him if he’d consider leaving the NBA for a European team if offered $50 million. There are rumors about that with LeBron James.

"Yeah, yeah," Wade said about 1/1000th of a second after the question was asked.

Is he a fake? Is Redeem Team a fake, too, setting us up?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/couch/ol ... 08.article

Toronto Raptors centrepiece Chris Bosh, among others, agreed that so rich an offer would have to be weighed, regardless of the prestige of the world's greatest basketball league.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blog ... urope.aspx

[NetsForce]

Going to Europe wouldn't make Lebron "the next Jodan" winning 6 championships will... Many people act like it's a foregone conclusion that Lebron will win multiple championships in his career and reach some sort of mythical legend status, but let's stay grounded people although Lebron has done some amazing things he's still ringless.

[Hitman33]

Going to Europe wouldn't make Lebron "the next Jodan" winning 6 championships will... Many people act like it's a foregone conclusion that Lebron will win multiple championships in his career and reach some sort of mythical legend status, but let's stay grounded people although Lebron has done some amazing things he's still ringless.

LeBron is not looking to be the "Next Jordan."

He is looking to be the 1st LeBron, and that includes being a billionaire and a world icon. A 50 Million Dollar per year contract in Europe would aid in that goal.

[ansoncarter]

LeBron is not looking to be the "Next Jordan."

He is looking to be the 1st LeBron, and that includes being a billionaire and a world icon. A 50 Million Dollar per year contract in Europe would aid in that goal.

rofl is that true?

thats quite a noble goal

very inspirational figure this lebron character is

[sdeezy]

Going to Europe wouldn't make Lebron "the next Jodan" winning 6 championships will... Many people act like it's a foregone conclusion that Lebron will win multiple championships in his career and reach some sort of mythical legend status, but let's stay grounded people although Lebron has done some amazing things he's still ringless.

LeBron is not looking to be the "Next Jordan."

He is looking to be the 1st LeBron, and that includes being a billionaire and a world icon. A 50 Million Dollar per year contract in Europe would aid in that goal.

+ 10,000

Yeah I guess Lebron would like some rings, but i'm certain he would rather be a global icon and a billionaire anyday. People are putting too much credence to this whole 'legacy' thing. Basketball is a job to most of these players. Its about how much they can make. I dont care who you are or what league u play in, If someone offers you 40 mill tax-free to play in Rome, u take it and run. Anyone who criticizes such a move is just being hypocritical

[Rocky5000]

Sometimes I think LeBron is intentionally trying to surprise people with his responses and/or make himself standout. Like Today, Kobe, Carmelo and Chris Paul both talked about how they were rooting for the other Olympians and were really happy to meet Michael Phelps. LeBron on the other hand, was the ONLY player who didn't have anything to say about the other USA Olympians. His response was something about "just trying to concentrate on the task at hand..yadda,yadda,yadda," as if his competitive fire is so great that he cannot allow himself to enjoy the Olympics.

[dflash3]

Going to Europe wouldn't make Lebron "the next Jodan" winning 6 championships will... Many people act like it's a foregone conclusion that Lebron will win multiple championships in his career and reach some sort of mythical legend status, but let's stay grounded people although Lebron has done some amazing things he's still ringless.

LeBron is not looking to be the "Next Jordan."

He is looking to be the 1st LeBron, and that includes being a billionaire and a world icon. A 50 Million Dollar per year contract in Europe would aid in that goal.

Guys like Jordon, Bird, and Magic are known for what they accomplished on the court. Not for how much money they made, so the only way for Lebron to be mentioned within the same group is by continuing to play at a high level in this league.

For example, what Beckham accomplished while playing in Europe will be what defines his career and his stint with the MLS will be seen more as a short detour.

[Narcist]

2 years till hes a free agent. seriously i'm sick of this ****.

[Gordon Bombay]

2 years till hes a free agent. seriously i'm sick of this ****.

cavs fans have been dealing with this for five years now...whats two more

[slamdunk]

If LeBron James plays in Europe, New Jersey Nets look stupid for trading Richard Jefferson for nothing.

[rewill17]

Man I dont get how some Euro club can efford paying someone $50 MILLION a year and paying off their taxes, whilst maintaining enough money to surround him with talent, and pray to god that Lebron doesn't opt out suddenly helps them pay off the enourmous debt switiching into a bigger arenas

[Inc]

Let's put it this way.
If you were working as a cashier at Walmart for $8 an hour, then you get offered to work at K-Mart for $40 an hour, would you want to stay and be the best cashier Walmart has ever seen and get the Employee of the Month, or take the money and go to K-Mart?

K-Mart FTW!

[DaDragicShow]

Let's put it this way.
If you were working as a cashier at Walmart for $8 an hour, then you get offered to work at K-Mart for $40 an hour, would you want to stay and be the best cashier Walmart has ever seen and get the Employee of the Month, or take the money and go to K-Mart?

K-Mart FTW!

I would work at both places, be the best cashier at WalMart and make bank at K-mart.

[shawngoat23]

If LeBron James plays in Europe, New Jersey Nets look stupid for trading Richard Jefferson for nothing.

I say they made out quite well in that trade. They got nice young talent coming back, and they'll only have to dump Vince Carter to fully begin the rebuilding process.

[Hydroponic3385]

Like other people have said, people single out Lebron for NO REASON. Kobe, Paul, etc. all the said the same thing. Of course guys aren't going to say "I definitely wouldn't head to Europe for the money" or "There's no doubt I'm remaining a [insert team name] the rest of my career." All these guys want to keep their options open for the best possible contract, gain as much media exposure as possible, and so forth.

But of course, the only who gets paid attention to is Lebron. Nevermind the fact that others have been saying the same thing as him.