Video: THE RICKY RUBIO STORY

AN EYE-OPENER AWAITS NBA STARS OVERSEAS

A rude awakening awaits NBA stars planning to play overseas due to the current lockout situation. They maybe in for a big shocker as their stint will not be all that rosy. There are several factors to consider in playing overseas. First is attitude. They maybe called superstars in the NBA but they could be just one of the boys in their new team. They may not enjoy the love that is given to them by their American hoop fans. Then there is also the need to sacrifice. While the NBA game showcase more the one-on-one plays, it is the complete reversal in international leagues where team play takes the front seat. Former NBA player Pat Burke, who is now retired and had played as an import in Poland, Greece, Spain and Russia, says he saw a lot of bigtime NBA players who easily come and go in the European circuit because of their attitude, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“You have to live it to understand it. I saw a lot of NBA guys come and go. It's their attitude. That was the biggest thing. Any guys going overseas have to really adjust their thinking. It's one of the biggest sacrifices you'll ever make. No fade-away jumpers, no running down shooting 3s. You have to work for shots. NBA guys who didn't like that were on the next flight out.”

VIVA ESPANA FOR SERGE IBAKA

Serge Ibaka’s addition to Spain's national team roster further made the defending champions the solid favorites to repeat in the coming EuroBasket set to start on August 31 in Lithuania. Ibaka will join co-NBA players Paul and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio to form one of the strongest Spanish national teams ever assembled. Ibaka, one of the most promising young athletic big men in the pro league, is a native of Congo and his petition for nationality was recently approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers. The 6-10, 21 year-old power forward was drafted 24th over-all by the Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) in the 2008 rookie draft. He has career averages of 8.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a game in 155 total outings so far with the Thunder. News of Ibaka’s confirmation of Spanish nationality appeared in an article on Slam On Line.

“Serge Ibaka has been granted Spanish nationality, and will hoop for its national team at the European Championship next month. The AP reports: “Ibaka must swear loyalty to the Spanish crown and constitution to finalize the process after Spain’s Council of Ministers approved his petition for nationality on Friday. The 21-year-old was born in the Republic of Congo but played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. According to Spanish media reports, he maintains a residence in Barcelona. Ibaka can join Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol and brother Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies in a formidable front court for Spain.”

UNICAJA STINT FOR DWIGHT HOWARD?

As the end of the lockout remains uncertain, many NBA players, both stars and marginal, are looking elsewhere for temporary employment. Big men like Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic can hone up their skills playing in the tough and lucrative European circuit. Howard, who posted norms of 22.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks a game in 78 outings for the Magic last season, may see action for Unicaja Malaga squad in the Spanish pro league. Howard says it would be a great experience to play for a great team like Unicaja while awaiting the end of the lockout, according to La Opinion de Malaga.

“I hope they fix the situation as soon as possible to avoid losing a game of the season. The NBA is a global competition followed by millions of viewers and should not pass things like this. It would be fun to play at Unicaja, it sure would be a great experience for me. If the break does not stop I would come to Europe to continue to improve on a great team to end the lockout when ready.”

OLYMPIACOS STINT FOR DAVID ANDERSEN?

For marginal players like David Andersen, the goldmine is not in the NBA but in the lucrative European circuit. The 6-11 native of Australia is a two-year NBA veteran, who has seen action for the Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Hornets, with career averages of 4.9 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per outing in 103 total games. Andersen is a Dutch passport holder and that makes him ideal for European clubs. Greek powerhouse Olympiacos is reportedly all set to tender an offer that will be hard to refuse for Andersen, who made $ 2.5 million last season with the Hornets, according to The Hoop.

"(David) Andersen's contract makes him 2.5 million dollars, which is money that Olympiacos could easily afford for that kind of player. Andersen has a Danish passport too so that makes him even more appealing for European teams and in Olympiacos they're looking for another worthy player for their front-line."

KEVIN LOVE IS THE KEY TO RICKY RUBIO’S LONG AWAITED T-WOLVES DEBUT

Minnesota Timberwolves franchise player Kevin Love will play a vital role in luring Spanish wonder boy Ricky Rubio to finally play in the NBA. Rubio was the sixth over-all pick of the Timberwolves in the 2009 draft but has opted to remain in Spain for the last two seasons. He is currently playing for the FC Barcelona squad in the tough Spanish League. Love and Rubio had become close friends during the last FIBA World Championships in Turkey last summer, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

“I still text him every now and then. Not too often, once or twice a month. I've always said I hope he comes over sooner rather than later so we can get this thing started. He's not 6-5 or 6-4 like they say he is. He's more like 6-3, but you can tell he has really long arms. That helps him make passes and being able to defend, too. He gets his hands on a lot of balls.”

“THE ANSWER”: NO MORE NBA

Allen Iverson (left) in action for
Besiktas in the Turkish pro league.

If people think that the Turkish League stint of Allen Iverson is a springboard for a future NBA comeback, the answer is a big no. For Iverson, the NBA is a thing of the past and all of his focus right now is to make Besiktas a better team. Iverson says he is done with the NBA and he is happy with his life as his heart now belongs to Turkey, where he hopes to end his storied basketball career, according to HeinNews.

“No, that’s not a goal of mine. That’s a goal I have already accomplished. I already accomplished being an NBA basketball player. I’ve done a lot of things in that league that not too many people have had a chance to do and have the luxury to perform at that level. I’ve done a lot of things that I’m proud of in the NBA for the years that I was there. I’ve accomplished so many things. And my heart is here now. This is what I want to do. Obviously this team gave me an opportunity and gave me a chance. And I think I would be letting them down if I was just focused on getting back to the NBA. My focus is on getting this team better and doing everything I can for this club. If I can have it my way I would finish my career right here.

“Just to win. With me, scoring and breaking records and doing all those things and being an All-Star, I’ve done those things and accomplished those things on the highest level. So I’ve been there and done that. My whole thing is team orientated. When the contract was made I didn’t want any individual things put into the contract that I had to accomplish. I wanted all the goals to be team-orientated. That’s the only thing I’m thinking about, winning basketball games. And just coming here and losing my first three games gives me a bad taste in my mouth. But the only thing it does is encourage me to get better and learn the system and fit in better than I am.”

AI FINALLY LANDS IN TURKEY

Allen Iverson is being escorted by
security personnel as he arrives at
Ataturk Airport in Turkey.
(AP Photo).

Does he still have it? Will he finish the season? All of these questions will be finally answered in a few days time as Allen Iverson finally arrived in Turkey to suit up for Besiktas in the local pro league. Iverson, who signed a $4-Million, two-year contract, will join forces with fellow imports Mire Chatman and A.J. Ogilvy on the Besiktas squad. Iverson arrived at Ataturk airport amid a group of fans chanting fight songs and a throng of media. Iverson says he wants to bring excitement to the Turkish fans and promise to give something they have not seen before, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“They were great. that is the most important thing to be accepted and wanted and appreciated. It was a good feeling to see them come and support me. That's exciting me more and more to get done what I want to get done and that is winning basketball games.

“Just excitement for the fans. Hopefully they will come out and support our team and watch me play. This is the best opportunity is to come out here and give them something they have never seen before. They obviously have seen a little bit of me playing in the NBA, but they get a chance to see a lot more of me.

“That's one of the greatest feeling about sports and being an athetle is you get the chance to interact with the fans. How much they participate makes it more better and exciting for us. The more excitement they have, the more it will excite me and give me the energy to play hard.

“I'm going to be around my teammates a lot and I'll interact with the fans as much as possible. I bet before I leave here I'm going to speak Turkish.”

IT WON’T BE EASY FOR IVERSON

Allen Iverson during his
NBA heydays in file photo.

If Allen Iverson finally signs a contract to play in the Turkish league and then think he can dominate it just like the way he used to during his heydays in the NBA, well, he better think again. Former NBA player Joe Crispin, who is a veteran of several Euro leagues including Turkey, says the transition from the American pro game to Euro style of play would not be easy for Iverson, according to Philadelphia Sports Daily.

“The amount of practice is difficult for any American to get used to. But for Iverson it may be tougher, given his history. Maybe his hunger to perform well will overcome it, but it won’t be easy. Road games will surprise him no doubt, however. I know this comes as a shock to many people, but I found it easiest to compete in the NBA, not because the level of the players overseas is higher, but because the style of play is far from easy. The NBA is wide open and less physical [especially in the regular season], with better management by the officials and better players all around, so the adjustment to European play, particularly in Turkey, will be far from easy.

“I would be surprised if he heads over to Turkey and dominates the way people might be inclined to believe. He is a great player with great experience, but at his size, with his style of play, it won’t be easy.”

“THE ANSWER” IS TURKEY-BOUND

Allen Iverson played his
last NBA season with
the Philadelphia 76ers.

With no NBA team showing interest for his services, Allen Iverson is now seriously considering European options with Turkey looming as the front-runner for his next destination. Iverson’s business manager Gary Moore said negotiations are currently ongoing with Turkish pro team Besiktas, which is set to offer a one-year $2-M contract to the man popularly known as "The Answer", according to Yahoo! Sports.

“We are in very serious negotiations with [Besiktas]. Istanbul is beautiful from everything we’ve learned. It’s not that far from the U.S., and the competition is good which makes it all attractive.”

THE NBA CAN WAIT FOR EUROPEAN WONDER BOY

Spanish whiz kid Ricky Rubio.

There will still be no sighting of European wonder boy Ricky Rubio in the NBA next season. The 19 year-old Spanish point guard opted to remain with Regal FC Barcelona, where he averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.2 apg in 22 total games last year, according to the Toronto Sun. He might suit up with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which drafted him fifth over-all in the 2009 rookie draft, starting the 2011-12 season. Rubio said once he plays in the NBA, he intends to stay in the league for so long. And if things don’t workout in his US pro career, there is always the chance to comeback in the Euro League.

“I am still talking to Minnesota but at the moment it’s not foremost in my thoughts. Next year we’ll think about whether I go over there. I’ll talk with whom I need to talk to, with Barcelona, with Minnesota, with my agents, and we’ll decide.

“It’s an exciting prospect playing in the NBA, one that every player wants. When you are little you dream about it.

“There are (Spanish) players who go there and things don’t go well and they prefer to come back, others who triumph. If I go there and I get on badly in the first few years I’ll come back but in principle I intend to stay there as long as I can.”

MAN-MOUNTAIN INVADES ISRAEL

Man-mountain Greek center Sofoklis Schortsanitis has left his country’s pro league to sign with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv of the Israeli League on a reported two-year deal, according to The Hoop. The 25 year-old, 6-10 center nicknamed “Baby Shaq” is a veteran of Euro leagues playing in Greece and Italy during the last nine years. Sofo averaged 8.4 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 41 (including 19 in EUROLEAGUE) total games with Greek club Olympiacos last season.

“As soon as I made the decision not to keep playing in Greece, I started looking for a big club, one that was well-run and had a great reputation, where I could make a contribution – I found all that with Maccabi Tel Aviv. I’m very excited to come to Tel Aviv and to Nokia Arena. I know the club, its fans and its impressive accomplishments very well, and I’m going to do everything I can to continue to glorify Maccabi Tel Aviv.”

SPAIN: THE FREE AGENT HAVEN

After the NBA, Spain is fast becoming the best alternative place for free agents. Take the case of NBA D-League veteran and ex-Kansas University star Russell Robinson. The former starting point guard of the 2008 NCAA championship team has signed up with DKV Joventut for around $200,000 a year contract, according to LJWorld.com.

“Every free agent in the world is trying to get to Spain. It’s great money. Spain is the best league for money, period. I’d rather not say more than that.

“I am excited. It’s a great career move, a great opportunity to improve my basketball stock for the NBA and Europe,” Robinson said. “It’s arguably the most competitive league in Europe.”