alex deherrera

No, probably not. While he is still ridiculed for his global icon comment from a few years ago, it is obvious that his goal is to be the next Jordan in terms of endorsements and fame. Playing in Europe, even if it is just two years for 50 million a year, won’t do much to enhance that status. I really do believe that European basketball will be on par with the NBA in the next twenty years but that is because it is a free market with a youth system thats completely trumps our own. Signing players like Josh Childress shows that the prestige of the NBA won’t be enough to hinder players who are not max-contracters, but for a player of James status, the money he would make would certainly be less than he would through endorsements. The prevailing theory is that he wants to play for the Knicks because New York is the largest market in America. Playing for the best team in Europe will not sell as many jerseys.

The future of the NBA is going to be decided by our youth developmental programs and the freeing of the restricted market. Don’t expect James signing with a European club to be the catalyst that changes the system because ultimately that doesn’t have as much of an effect on the pocket books of the owners as a second, viable league rising.