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Kobe Bryant Says He Would Play in Russia for $40 Million By C.Y. Ellis
08.4.2008 - Updated on 08.4.2008
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Honesty or irony? Either way, Kobe Bryant made the following statement when asked if he would consider setting up shop in the Euroleague for the right price:
Of course. By the way, are you the owner of a Russian team? It can be arranged for $40 million per year.
Kobe’s currently in the middle of a seven-year deal worth $136.4 million, so it’s not as if he’s strapped for cash. Still, who’s to say he couldn’t be tempted to opt out (he can do so after the fifth year of his deal) if given the chance to earn a tax-free forty million for half a season’s work?
If there’s one thing following the finances of NBA franchises has taught me, it’s that everyone has their price. Now that Euroleague outfits owned by billionaires and unrestricted by salary caps and luxury taxes are willing to pay that price, it can’t be long before we see a top-tier talent make the move.
So, could Kobe ever be tempted by the money? Bear in mind that, with taxes and the shorter season factored in, he could earn nearly eight times more per game in Russia than in Los Angeles. Let us know what you think in the comment box below.
- CYE |
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Posted by
on 08.15.2008 | You also have to consider the endorsements a player makes. When a player reaches the NBA his exposure is global. Meaning endorsements are way way higher. Salary from their ballclub is not the only source of income of a player. Most players earn much more in endorsements. Move to Euroleague and there is a chance that you could fade to obscurity. (thereby loosing your income from endorsements) Is Kobe willing to do that now that he is still in his prime? No, if he is then he is short sighted. Would he consider that in a few years or so? Yes he would. That would only mean that he is already on his decline and could still be very competitive (superstar) in the Euroleague. . | Posted by
rahlic
on 08.12.2008 | the league brought it on themsleves. with dress codes andsalary caps. pay the players. the average joe thinks the players make alot true to us 9 to 5 ers, but this is in a small conparison to what owners rake in. a player of kobe’s caliber should own part of the team. we call these players greedy but mark cuban is alwaysin the news trying to buy any team. I guess he just cares about fans happiness and what good he can do for a city.. lol P.Ssalary caps dont help teams any way.... ex marlins, diamond backsgiants, . | Posted by
on 08.7.2008 | even MJ can earn that money if he wants to play again...in europe ofcourse. . | Posted by
ronh
on 08.6.2008 | I think when Kobe retires from the NBA in about 5 years. He is going to play in russia. He still would get 40 million and still be a huge superstar. . | Posted by
TheTruthSquad
on 08.6.2008 | The salary cap was invented so the owners could get players cheap and it is working to perfection. Europe will be the future of the NBA if something is not changed soon. . | Posted by
on 08.5.2008 | Lets not think about Kobe going top Russia before we get over the hump at the olympics. We dont exactly have a great history there lately. Who wouldnt take $40M for a year tax free, you would be crazy bot to. Remember Kobe lived in Italy. Remember only parts of Russia are Europeon.Plus those Russian babes are HOT. When Kobe gets in trouble he can get an Alexandrite. which is the rarest most precious and most expensive stone in the world, its in Russia only. . | Posted by
Chris Perez
on 08.5.2008 | this Euro stuff is gettin outta control. Dont players go to Europe so they can get recognized by NBA scouts to play in the NBA? Isnt makin it to the NBA supposed to be the dream? Now playin for a European team is the goal. Get outta here. Doesnt anybody know what the NBA means? It means that if u make it to the league ur one of the best players in the world and the nba is the place where u can demonstrae ur skills amongst other elite players.. The Nba pays and it has the worlds greatest players. I would rather play in the NBA for 3 million a year than play in Europe for 40 million for a couple reason...1) i want to play against the best (europe doesnt have the best players in the world. 2) An NBA championship is worth more than any European championship. 3) when u play inthe NBA ur not just playin in a league ur playin in a league where legends have been made. Just the fact that ur playin in a league where the worlds greatest played and still are playin is what i want to do. there is just too much to say and list so Come on now NBA players have to realize how special the NBA is.... . | Posted by
on 08.5.2008 | the way s---is goin,the next 5 to 7 years the NBA wouldnt be what it is today,i personaly dont like kobe very much,but u cant denied that he is probably the best ball player in the world,he is a superstar,he got the fame,he is stupid rich,LA is kobe’s town and he still wants more,I’d give my arm to play in the NBA(not my arm cuz then i wouldnt be able to play,but somethin that i can give )these NBA players are so greedy,all they think about is the paper,what happened with the love for the game,everybody is tryna go to the NBA,and players who r gonna have real succesfull careers in that league want out . | Posted by
the_evil_bunny
on 08.4.2008 | he’s gonna die of frostbite there.. it’d be better for him to play in asia.. lol.. . | Posted by
that one guy
on 08.4.2008 | u know what else would be a dream come true? if there were less bandwagon celtic fans bashing kobe right now after u same fans were chanting mvp for him.. that’s being a bandwagon at its finest... the celtics have turned into a pathetic franchise that tanks so they can get a top pick.. pathetic.. and only pierce would be stupid enough to say sometin like " i wanna thank the fans for stickin with us" celtics are pathetic after the way they decided to go to get back to the top.. we should just have the lakers or pistons or spurs tank this year so they get a top pick too.. then they’ll be unstoppable . | Posted by
celts fan
on 08.4.2008 | he can score 80-100 points a game and not have to play defense. its dream come true for him. . | Posted by
franchise
on 08.4.2008 | kobe? in russia? maybe when he’s 37. . | Posted by
C.Y. Ellis
on 08.4.2008 | If Kobe were to sign in Russia, he wouldn’t be even remotely close to his former home in Europe, which was in southern Italy. There are over seven hundred million people in Europe spread over forty-something countries, and there’s a hell of a lot of diversity among those nations. If Kobe were looking to play somewhere resembling Reggio di Calabria, Russia wouldn’t be on the list. If he leaves, money will be the primary factor. . | Posted by
on 08.4.2008 | i think the reason kobe would do it is not caus of the money but cause of his love for europe. lets not forget he used to live there and he grew up there. so it would be a little intriguing for him to take his talent back where he grew up. but of course i hope he doesnt, cause im a laker fan . | Posted by
Deal or No Deal?
on 08.4.2008 | I think if any superstar was to do it would be Kobe Bryant. He has the international flavor learning from his pops. But then again Kobe is a competitor and he wants to play with the best so he may think long and hard about it, before turning down $40 mil. On another note I hear Starbury is being offered $15-$20 mil a year from a powerhouse euro league team. That’s not a good deal on that teams part, but it shows they’re willing to throw cash at major NBA stars . |
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