Source: LeBron would consider European offer of $50 million a year or more

Yes Yes and Santa Claus is Real and don't forget to place your tooth underneath the pillow.. Again the NBA is not a game it's a business. These are athletes who play a sport that is in the entertainment business.. If you want to start talking about the wholesomeness (sp) of the game then go check out high school sports.. If these players cared about the game so much they would take so much less so players can play with their buddies and win championships... And second when did I say I had money or I was better off? Again you cannot read into context of my writing.

 

I think this is the more interesting question, if we're gouing to take this story seriously. Who the heck would pay Lebron $50 million per season? Yes, a European billionaire could pay it (just like an American billionaire could, if he wasn't constrained by the CBA), but would he?

If an owner is willing to lose gobs and gobs of money for a chance to win in a Euroleague, he could spend that money. If he has an inkling of business acumen or thriftiness, he'll want his business to mostly pay its own costs and maybe even turn a profit.

I don't know how much money European teams make, but I'm betting they have less revenue than American teams. The average NBA team in '06-'07 (forbes) earned about $120 million in revenue. So, Lebron would take over 40% of the topline of a European team that could earn as much as an NBA team. The average operating income for an NBA team is $10 million. So, paying an extra $30 million to their superstar would put them in the hole. In fact, only 5 teams that season could absorb another $30 million and still have positive operating income. And, I'm guessing franchises in other countries do not get the revenues that NBA teams get.

And, what would Lebron James give you for $50 million? He'd be the best player in the league, obviously, since he's just about the best one in the NBA. But, would that guarantee a championship? It doesn't in the NBA. I'm sure he'd have Wilt-like statistics and his team would probably be competitive. But, a player can't win by himself. Given that the best European players make a fifth to a tenth of Lebron's $50M, would an ambitious owner not be better off splitting $50 million between the 5 best European players and field a superstar team instead of a superstar player?

 

European sports club owners don't give a damn about the finances behind it. If they want a player they will pay what ever it takes to get him.

If they were worried about balancing the books they wouldn't be involved in European Basketball in the first place.

 

Sorry, that's obviously BS, because Lebron isn't playing in Athens for $50 million per season. Apparently, the hold-up isn't on his side.

 

I love everyone here complaining that someone would take more money at their job. If a Euro company offered you loads of cash to do exactly what you do right now, how many of you wouldn't take it?

Remember, basketball is a game to us but a job to these guys. This is how they're securing their future.

 

I don't know anything about the owners of the Euroleague teams, but all it takes is a billionaire like Roman Abramovich (who owns Chelsea FC) buying a Euroleague club for it to happen. Within 5 years Abramovich has spent 100s of millions to pay high transfer fees and wages of star players and the club isn't going to turn in anytime soon. I'm not sure whether they managed to eventually cover their costs, but there have been a few other instances of rich owners buying soccer clubs and spending large amounts not proportionate to their income. Off the top of my head Blackburn Rovers in the 1990s comes to mind.

I agree with you its unlikely anyone in Europe pays Lebron 50mil, but not impossible. Not all billionaires own sports clubs for profit.

 

typo:

*turn in a profit anytime soon.

 

this has nothing to do with lebron, but i didn't know that Michael Owen earns 41 pounds annually.... wow. just wow.

 

Much larger paycheck than possible in the U.S.? Check.
No taxes (thus making the bottom line a $50 million contract in Europe actually worth $50 mil instead of 2/3rds that)? Check.
Less wear and tear on his body because of comparatively easy schedule? Check.
Chance for increased global exposure? Check.
Opportunity to come back and play in the NBA while still relatively young? Check.

If, and it is a big if, a team was willing to pay Lebron that kind of money, it would appear foolish for him not to do it. And I don't understand the "love for the game" argument. Why would Lebron not be "loving the game" because he is playing in Europe and getting paid more? He could theoretically still love playing basketball while maximizing his earnings and doing so without a preference for where his playing.

 

Kobe will be cheaper than Lebron.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53863/20080804/kobe_would_play_in_russia_for_right_price/