Loads of money abroad, says Kevin Durant’s agent – NBA Update
One of the big NBA names linked with a move overseas during the NBA lockout is Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant. Like other big names though, people have questioned whether he would be able to make nearly as much money as he
does in the United States. According to his agent, Durant, and other NBA stars, can certainly make a lot of money.
Kevin is a household name in the United States and his star is rising abroad. The player led his side, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to the Western Conference Finals this year and while the team lost, the two times NBA scoring champion
did himself proud.
The lockout has forced Kevin, along with other elite NBA players, to consider the possibility of plying their trade abroad. They need to keep in shape and they need to play basketball. For most money is a secondary issue, but an
issue nonetheless. And Durant’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, believes he can make a lot of money in Europe if he plays his cards right,
“I have always seen overseas markets as huge opportunities for NBA players,” says Goodwin, “but to do it properly, where the players shared in the licensing and marketing. These opportunities did not exist. The players’ ability
to openly explore overseas relationships was primarily through programs run by the NBA or endorsement relationships. Because of the lockout, there is a window for the players to explore these opportunities for themselves and expand their own brands.”
Goodwin proposes a deal involving a big European club and some high end sportswear company, who can combine with a genuine NBA star to build an attractive and profitable product. He uses the example of F.C. Barcelona, the current
Spanish basketball champions,
“Unification of those brands, F.C. Barcelona, a top player, a top shoe company … all three parties have the potential to turn this into a good business.”
The idea isn’t a new one, and certainly can be implemented. Turkish club Besiktas, who signed Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets earlier in the lockout, are already working towards such a deal. Besiktas have chased Kobe Bryant
for quite a while now and one of their executives revealed that the club was working with different companies to cater for Bryant’s high wage demands.
Even in the United States itself the model has been implemented with English football star David Beckham. MLS franchise Los Angeles Galaxy signed Beckham onto a long term deal quite a few years ago that became one of the highest
paying in the world because of the various sponsorships attached to it.
However, it has to be seen whether the Europeans would follow the same model and how many NBA superstars they could cater for.
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