Deron Williams gets first taste of European action with a loss – NBA Update
While the NBA owners and players union were busy battling on the negotiation table to end the lockout that has forced Deron Williams and many others to opt for foreign basketball teams, the New Jersey Nets point guard stepped onto
the court for a European competition for the first time in Belgium.
Just like in New York, the night did not end well - at least for Williams.
His side, the Istanbul based Turkish side Besiktas, were on the wrong end of a 74-63 loss to host Dexia Mons-Hainaut. The loss knocked Besiktas out of the Eurocup tournament, a second-tier intercontinental competition. Besiktas
hadn’t qualified for the first tier EuroLeague as well.
A disappointed Williams put the blame on himself after the game,
“Didn’t give my team much of a chance,” he said, according to the New York Times.
Williams did not enjoy a good time out. Perhaps it was rustiness, or perhaps some jet lag, but he was desperately disappointing at 7 points, 7 assists and 6 turnovers, while shooting a horrible 3 – of – 13 from the field.
Still, he has just started playing for Besiktas. He had an injury at the back end of last season and also has been out of action for a while. This adds to the fact that the style of game in Europe is pretty different from that
in NBA.
“I mean, I’ve played in a lot of European basketball. I’ve played in the Olympics. But this is definitely different. The way the reffing has been going has been different for me, but I’ve got to adjust.” Williams said after the
game.
Williams is still contacted to the Nets and will have to return to the New Jersey (at least for now) franchise, if the lockout ends in time to salvage the NBA season, or any part of it. He therefore does have a get out clause in
his Besiktas contract, believed to be worth around $5 million for the season.
In July, Deron became the first major NBA player to sign for a foreign team in light of the NBA labour dispute and his departure signaled the start of a player exodus that has since followed.
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