Former NBA Players Who Bolted
NBA players contemplating overseas play in light of the lockout has certainly become a hot topic these days. Free agents such Nenad Krstic, DaJaun Summers and David Andersen have already signed overseas contracts. Deron Williams recently agreed to a one-year deal with Istanbul’s Besiktas; an opt-out clause is included in the event the lockout ends. Many other players are rumored to be checking out the possibility. That led us to wonder about ex-NBA players through the years who decided to play for teams beyond the U.S. borders. The reasons for such a move are varied: increased salary, more playing time, to gain experience, or out of some other necessity. Perhaps players feet devalued by NBA teams based on age or injury. Some players, still able to play the game, accept an overseas deal when NBA offers simply dry up. Others have returned to the NBA after an overseas stint.
We were curious to discover how many former NBA players played international basketball last season. The list is actually quite long, so we elected to extract some of the more recognizable names to discuss. Keep in mind, this list is not all-inclusive by any means. It represents certain players who seemingly found success in the NBA, then elected to make the big move overseas for whatever reason. We picked, rather subjectively and in no particular order, several well-known players to highlight:
RICKY DAVIS:
Key NBA numbers:
• 12 seasons in the NBA: 1998-99 through 2009-10
• Appeared in 736 games; started 344
• Averaged 29.8 minutes per game
• Career stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.5 rpg
Last season:
• Played nine games with Jiangsu (China): 30.3 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 3.8 rpg
• Played 14 games with Roanne (France): 28.9 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.8 rpg
Davis has logged time with multiple NBA teams, having played for the Charlotte Hornets, Miami HEAT, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, back to Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to the Clippers – where he averaged 5.4 ppg over nearly two years – Davis scored in double-digits for the previous seven seasons. Internationally, his team-jumping remains much the same with stops in Turkey, China and France in just over one year.
Davis was waived by the Clippers in February, 2010 to make room for newly-acquired Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake and Drew Gooden. With no NBA teams requesting his services, he signed with Turkey in March, 2010.
STEPHON MARBURY:
Key NBA numbers:
• 13 seasons in the NBA: 1996-97 to 2008-09
• Appeared in 846 games; started 816
• Career average: 19.3 ppg, 7.6 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 spg
• Six consecutive years of scoring 20 points or more
• Average 37.7 minutes per game
• Scored in double-digit figures in all but one season
Last season:
• Played 32 games for Foshan (China): 25.2 ppg, .558 fg percentage, 5.7 apg
The two-time All-Star was drafted fourth overall in 1996. To adequately encapsulate Marbury’s NBA career, both the positive and negative, in a few sentences is impossible. One thing’s for sure, a review of the NBA numbers above reflects his abilities.
However talented Marbury may be, he appears plagued by ego and emotional issues, plus an inability to censor his choice of words. The spats between Marbury and his coaches -Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, Mike D’Antoni – are legendary.
Marbury, now 34, headed to China in January, 2010. Miami reached out to him last summer, but he was unwilling to accept the veteran’s minimum salary. He’s set to play in China again next season and continue marketing his Starbury brand.
SEAN MAY:
Key NBA numbers:
• Appeared in 119 games; started 25
• 2005-06 & 2006-07: 10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg at 20.6 mpg
• 2008-09 & 2009-10: 3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg at 10.7 mpg
Last season:
• Played seven games with Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey): 4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg at 12.6 mpg
Following a sensational three-year college career at UNC, May was selected thirteenth overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. Unfortunately a knee injury in December, 1995, and later micro fracture surgery, caused him to miss significant games for the next few years. In fact, he was sidelined the entire 2007-08 season. May battled serious conditioning problems the next season, and was placed on the inactive list. The Sacramento Kings picked him up for the minimum salary for the 2009-10 season. The New Jersey Nets took a chance next, but they released him during preseason (September, 2010) when he suffered a foot fracture.
The Turkish team signed him in late 2010; reports indicate there will be no moves made to re-sign May.
FLIP MURRAY:
Key NBA Numbers:
• Eight seasons in the NBA: 2002-03 to 2009-10
• Appeared in 487 games, started 92
• Career averages: 9.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 rpg
• Averaged 22.7 minutes per game
Last season:
• In just five games with Efes Pilsen (Turkey), averaged 4.4 ppg at .286 field goal percentage and .100 in three-point shooting with 1.0 apg in 14.0 mpg.
Drafted in the second round in 2002, Murray has played for eight different NBA teams in his eight-year NBA career. In January, 2011, the free agent declined the Golden State Warrior’s non-guaranteed deal. He had recently worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies, and many expected a deal to get done there. However, Turkey came calling first with an offer through the end of the season. His decision caught many off guard, considering his solid play with Chicago, but Murray rejected veteran’s minimum numbers in favor of an overseas move.
RASHO NESTEROVIC:
Key NBA numbers:
• 12 seasons in the NBA: 1998-99 to 2009-10
• Appeared in 811 games; started 595
• Career averages: 6.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .502 field goal percentage
• Averaged 22.2 minutes per game
Last season:
• Played 20 games for Olympiacos (Greece): 10.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .667 field goal percentage in 20.8 mpg.
{AUTHOR_BOX}The 7-foot Slovenian has played the game professionally nearly twenty years, with stints in Serbia, Slovenia, Greece and Italy before joining the Minnesota Timberwolves in late 1999 (they drafted him 1998). His average of 11.2 ppg/6.5 rpg in his fourth full season with the Wolves led to a multi-year deal, and a championship ring, with the San Antonio Spurs. After a trade to the Toronto Raptors, then the Indiana Pacers, and a signing back to Toronto, he landed overseas for the 2010-11 season.
Mestrovic had a serviceable year with Olympics (and suffered an arm injury), but his contract is not expected to be extended. Now 35, he may be nearing the end of his career.
BONZI WELLS:
Key NBA numbers:
• Ten seasons in the NBA: 1998-99 to 2007-08
• Appeared in 591 games; started 275
• Career averages: 12.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg, .460 field goal percentage
• Averaged 25.6 minutes per game
International:
• Played 14 Games for Shanxi Zhongyu (China): 34.3 ppg
• Played three games for Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico) in the Liga Americas tournament: 19.7 ppg
We’re making an exception for Wells – he did not play overseas last season – because his story is compelling. He attended a free agent mini-camp with the New York Knicks in just a few weeks ago. Reports indicate the team was so taken by the 34-year-old veteran’s performance that a training camp invite may follow.
Wells was drafted eleventh overall in 1998 following a stand-out college career at Ball State. After five+ seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Wells played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Hornets over the next five years. Wells’ NBA career is littered with words such as “suspension”, “fines” and “conflict”, but there have been impressive accomplishments as well. His 45-point effort in the 2003 playoffs remains a Portland franchise record. In the 2005-06 six-game playoff series vs. the San Antonio Spurs, he logged a jaw-dropping average of 23.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and .609 in field goal shooting. His agent then turned down a five-year $36M deal with the Kings, instead signing a two-year contract worth $5M with the Rockets.
After the 2007-08 season, Wells was an unrestricted free agent with no desire to sign for the NBA minimum. He signed with Shanxi Zhongyu until February, 2009 (a no-show incident led to a contract termination); look above again for his unbelievable scoring average. In November, 2009, he joined a Puerto Rico team for tournament play.
MAHMOUD ABDUL-RAUF:
Key NBA numbers:
• Nine seasons in the NBA: 1990-91 to 1997-98 & 2000-01
• Appeared in 586 games; started in 386
• Career average over nine season: 14.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, .905 free throw percentage
• Averaged 26.7 minutes per game
Last season:
• Played 44 games for Kyoto Hannaryz (Japan): 14.9 ppg, 2.7 apg, .888 free-throw percentage at 26.2 mpg
Before we start, allow the fact that Abdul-Rauf is still playing at 42 years of age marinate in your mind. And we’re not talking garbage time.
The Denver Nuggets selected him third overall in the 1990 draft. During his sixth year in Denver (1995-96) at age 26, he recorded career-high numbers in scoring (19.2), assists (6.8), three-point shooting percentage (.392) and playing time (35.6 mpg), plus led the league in free-throw percentage (.930; also led in 1993-94 at .956). He picked that season – the peak of his career thus far – to cease standing for the National Anthem at the beginning of games. The ensuing backlash directed toward him for this personal decision was intense. If you were a fan in those days, you remember. His numbers started dropping over the next two years following a trade to the Sacramento Kings. He played for Turkey in the 1998-99 season, then to the Vancouver Grizzlies for the 2000-01 season.
With no lessening of the scrutiny in sight, Abdul-Rauf relocated abroad to play the game. In the past ten years, he’s played for Russia, Greece, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and most recently, Japan.
JUAN CARLOS NAVARRO:
Key NBA numbers:
• Played only one season (2007-08 in 82 games) with the Memphis Grizzlies
• Logged 156 three-pointers, only two shots away from rookie record
• Averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.2 apg, 2.6 rpg
Last season:
• Played 27 games with FC Barcelona: 16.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, .508 field goal percentage, .893 free-throw percentage at 26.0 mpg.
Navarro was a 2002 second-round draft pick of the Washington Wizards, but stayed overseas until he was dealt to the Grizzlies prior to the 2007-08 season. He performed better than expected and was about to test the free agent waters when FC Barcelona extended a multi-year deal he couldn’t refuse. The move was a surprise to Memphis; they extended a qualifying offer (now withdrawn) in case of a future NBA return. Don’t hold your breath as Navarro has become a Spanish superstar. Many regret he didn’t stick it out longer in the NBA and speculate “what if?” had he landed on a contending, or at least more stable, team.
********
This list really could go on and on. We didn’t even get to these former NBA players who traveled interesting paths to an overseas gig last season: Allen Iverson, Stromile Swift, Marco Jaric, Gerald Green, Bostjan Nachbar, Sergio Rodriguez. And there are many, many more. That number is sure to grow should the lockout continue past the season-opening tip.
Loading ...
