Iup basketball

[IUP24]

I think part of it is kids’ minds are still functioning more like a college athlete than someone who’s been a working professional or “real” adult. There’s probably still a dream there that they’ll get noticed combined with being able to say “I played pro ball” and not being quite ready to move on. Most of these guys will have been playing for between 15-20 years and it has been a big part of their lives and it’s just hard to shut it off if there are still opportunities. As you point out though, there might be a price to be paid down the line.

Some might also have the luxury of not having to “adult” right away. If that’s the case, cool. I know I was sweating bullets when I graduated knowing student loans would be coming due and I needed to get a big boy job fast. That’s not the case for a lot of these high level players that were on scholarship. As far as that goes, have fun for as long as you can, although I’m not sure playing in Ukraine would be a whole lot of fun these days.

Agree with all of that. I don't begrudge anyone for doing it. I just don't necessarily know that there is financial benefit from it for a lot of them, compared to just using their degree and starting their career. That's just me though. If you do it for a year or two, I think that's probably low risk in the long run. If you hang on, that could be a bad decision.

But again, to each their own.

[IUP24]

Did you make 70-80k in your first job out of college? That’s a lot of money in professional basketball for rookies with the exception of NBA/fringe NBA guys.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be playing for 25k when I’m 30 years old, but doing so for a couple years after college isn’t going to cripple you financially. You start your working career at 25 instead of 23. At least that’s how I look at it.

I didn't make quite that much. But I think what I was making in my first year out of college was probably far more than what guys in these down the line leagues are making.

Like I said.. To each their own. I just would like to have a clearer understanding of what the salaries are in some of these places. As you said, you aren't going to get crippled financially if you quit when you realize it's over. I know somebody who couldn't give up the dream. He would have been far better joining the workforce at 23.

[IUPHawks24]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.

Did you make 70-80k in your first job out of college? That’s a lot of money in professional basketball for rookies with the exception of NBA/fringe NBA guys.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be playing for 25k when I’m 30 years old, but doing so for a couple years after college isn’t going to cripple you financially. You start your working career at 25 instead of 23. At least that’s how I look at it.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.

I think part of it is kids’ minds are still functioning more like a college athlete than someone who’s been a working professional or “real” adult. There’s probably still a dream there that they’ll get noticed combined with being able to say “I played pro ball” and not being quite ready to move on. Most of these guys will have been playing for between 15-20 years and it has been a big part of their lives and it’s just hard to shut it off if there are still opportunities. As you point out though, there might be a price to be paid down the line.

Some might also have the luxury of not having to “adult” right away. If that’s the case, cool. I know I was sweating bullets when I graduated knowing student loans would be coming due and I needed to get a big boy job fast. That’s not the case for a lot of these high level players that were on scholarship. As far as that goes, have fun for as long as you can, although I’m not sure playing in Ukraine would be a whole lot of fun these days.

[IUP24]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.

[hawks16]

And probably should note for Marcel and Cobo, they're just playing at "home."

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think this is probably the greatest value. I’d be surprised if even 1% ever moved through these leagues and eventually into the NBA, but what a neat experience that you could put on a resume and talk about in a job interview.

The Chris Fite path is a pretty good route. He essentially played a full career overseas and then came back to the States and got in to coaching.

Cobo has had a good career and is probably making a decent living. It's not even a sniff of NBA money, obviously, as bench guys in the NBA make millions.

Sleva has also had a very good career overseas and actually got a run with Golden State's Summer League team last year.

It doesn't seem like those guys have been gone so long now but they have.

Our 'bigs' have a much better chance of catching on in the higher leagues.

[hawks16]

I think this is probably the greatest value. I’d be surprised if even 1% ever moved through these leagues and eventually into the NBA, but what a neat experience that you could put on a resume and talk about in a job interview.

Beats growing up! At the end of the day, you're getting paid to play hoops in another country. If you can avoid a war zone, it'd be a nice deal for a couple years.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I think it's a great experience for a young athlete in most cases. You get to broaden your cultural horizons and get housing and some money while you're doing it. One of my wife's cousins has a grandson who is an excellent baseball player. He was able to play two seasons in Australian and in addition to a decent salary had the use of a car pllus room and board. I sometimes wish I'd found a way to do some overseas travel long before I actually did.

I think this is probably the greatest value. I’d be surprised if even 1% ever moved through these leagues and eventually into the NBA, but what a neat experience that you could put on a resume and talk about in a job interview.

[TheBigCat2192]

I have a lot of questions about these pro basketball leagues overseas. Do they get much of a following? Does anyone show up to watch the games? Do any of these teams pay well?

I’ve caught some occasional video of overseas games and what I’ve seen is mostly empty gyms. I think it’s nice that the opportunity is there for guys to continue playing after college but I really know almost nothing about it.

Depends what league you’re playing in. The lower tiers of domestic leagues aren’t much different than playing low-level college ball here. Might be a few more fights in the stands and gambling threats but the money ain’t much. The biggest games can draw well and most NBA guys who played overseas or came from there will mention that those crowds are usually very intense. Financially, when you start getting into the better leagues (Adriatic, Spanish ACB, Turkish Super League, highest tier German or France) or on a team that plays in Eurobasket or EuroLeague games guys start to make a decent living. Not as good as an NBA bench player but better than slumming it in the D-League or whatever it’s called these days.

[Ship69]

Like anything else, it's kind of a work your way up thing. The leagues that Dustin Sleva and Cobo Diaz are now in are very high-profile (over there) and they are probably making a pretty decent salary (I'd guess $150k or $200k USD). They both kept getting elevated as the years have passed.

It's really a tier-type system.

I think it's a great experience for a young athlete in most cases. You get to broaden your cultural horizons and get housing and some money while you're doing it. One of my wife's cousins has a grandson who is an excellent baseball player. He was able to play two seasons in Australian and in addition to a decent salary had the use of a car pllus room and board. I sometimes wish I'd found a way to do some overseas travel long before I actually did.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The pay is mediocre but the benefits are pretty good. Most provide free housing with other players and meal stipends.

Like anything else, it's kind of a work your way up thing. The leagues that Dustin Sleva and Cobo Diaz are now in are very high-profile (over there) and they are probably making a pretty decent salary (I'd guess $150k or $200k USD). They both kept getting elevated as the years have passed.

It's really a tier-type system.

[Fightingscot82]

I have a lot of questions about these pro basketball leagues overseas. Do they get much of a following? Does anyone show up to watch the games? Do any of these teams pay well?

I’ve caught some occasional video of overseas games and what I’ve seen is mostly empty gyms. I think it’s nice that the opportunity is there for guys to continue playing after college but I really know almost nothing about it.

The pay is mediocre but the benefits are pretty good. Most provide free housing with other players and meal stipends.

[IUPalum]

For those who follow Danish basketball, Ethan Porterfield has signed with Randers Cimbria PRO of the top league there.

I'm trying to think of our all Hawks Abroad -- is it just Ethan, Dave Morris, Cobo Diaz, Marcel Souberbielle and Mathis Keita?

Armoni Foster was playing in Ukraine but I think he stopped after their season because it wasn't safe with all the bombings going on there.

I'm pretty sure David Morris is done with overseas because he just had a child 4 months ago.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I have a lot of questions about these pro basketball leagues overseas. Do they get much of a following? Does anyone show up to watch the games? Do any of these teams pay well?

I’ve caught some occasional video of overseas games and what I’ve seen is mostly empty gyms. I think it’s nice that the opportunity is there for guys to continue playing after college but I really know almost nothing about it.

Lot of levels to overseas basketball. The higher levels do draw fairly well. The vast majority, however, are like playing at Clarion.

The highest leagues also pay fairly well. The rest are pennies.