every pro basketball player in Europe should know -by Eurobasket
 

For more info contact: Fred Brossard fred@eurobasket.com

Slide 1 : US players - Where can you play ?

EVERYWHERE in Europe .!!!!
All the professional leagues in Europe welcome non-European players (US / Canadians .)
Some amateur (lower divisions) leagues also welcome non-European players IN RESTRICTED NUMBER however .
 A few examples :
Number of import players allowed per team:
1st div, 2nd div, 3rd div 4th div, 5th div

France 2 2 1 1 (64 teams) 2 (144 teams)
Italy  4  3  only ITA passports starting from 3rd Divisions 
Spain 3 non E.U. 2 1
Greece 2 2
Turkey 2 2
Germany 2 1 1 to . (regional rules - hundreds of teams)
Belgium 2 1
Luxemburg 1 1 1 1
Generally . 2 1 / 2 Local rules
Holland No limit
 

Slide 2 : What happen with a dual citizenship ?
European players are divided in 2 categories :
Bosman A : E.U countries + Switzerland
Bosman B : all other countries (mostly Eastern Europe, Israel, Turkey)
Bosman A can play anywhere in the Bosman A zone without any restriction
Bosman A can play anywhere in the Bosman B zone with or without restriction
Bosman B can play anywhere in the Bosman A zone with or without restriction
For example : unlimited number in France but only 3 non-Bosman A in Spain
Bosman B can play anywhere in the Bosman B zone without restriction

US / Canadian players with a dual European citizenship are searched for by  al lot of teams !
With a dual citizenship, you will become a Bosman A or B player
« An US / Canadian 2nd division player becomes a 1st division player with a European passport » .so becomes his salary .
BUT NEVER « BUY » A DUAL CITIZENSHIP !
« Some people » may propose you a European passport for a few thousands of dollars. Don't say yes. The risks are too high : barred from playing b.ball for life but also in some case jail in the country you're living !
 
Slide 3 : Which salary ?
Average monthly salary for an import player (in US) : a rough idea with a few examples
1st div 2nd div 3rd div 4th div 5th div
France 11000 ,5000 ,2500, 1500 including maybe a job besides bball 1000 including maybe a job besides bball
Italy  15000, 10000 , 2500
Spain 15000 (some 50 000 !) 7000 5000
Greece 20 000 80000
Turkey 15000 7500
Germany 5000 (some 25 000) 3000 1500 1500 1500
Holland 3500 1500
Luxemburg 2500 1500
Switzerland 4000 1500
England 2500 1500
Poland 6000 3000
Scandinavia 4000 2000
Eastern Europe 3500-50000 ?
 

Slide 4 : What is behind the salary - a few things to think about:
Fiscality : in some countries, bballers don't pay income tax, in others, teams will pay income tax for the player and in some, players must pay income tax on their salary.
Financially troubled teams : there are countries where announced salaries may be high but you may have great difficulties to get paid .
Social Security / Insurance : in some countries like France, as a pro bball player, you are entitled to social security like every French worker and an insurance is bound to the bball license in case of injury . in some countries, there are no social security and you must take a personal insurance for health coverage.
Rights : in some countries, like France, as a pro player you're considered as a common worker and can defend your rights in front of a work tribunal in case of a disagreement with the team. In some others, you have no such rights .
Contract : your contract can be guaranteed (even if you're released, the team is supposed to pay you for the season) or « cut » (you can be released at anytime) .
Food, lodging, bringing your wife and your children . : these are things which depend on the countries and the teams .
 
Slide 5 : When do recruitment take place ?
In most European countries, season starts in September (practice resumes in August) and ends in May (with playoffs ending in June).
In most European countries, championships are played in two phases :
Regular phase (your team plays the others once at home, once on the road)
Playoffs (for the best 4, 6, 8 .)
And leagues are open : worst are being sent down below, best move up
European Cups (opposing bests 1, 2, 3 or 4 teams of every country) start in September and end in April
Recruitment takes place between June and October
No camp formula with 20 players fighting or a spot
Try-outs and one-month contract to start with are common
Import players can be changed anytime during the season - but local rules may apply
For example in France : recruitment closes after 4th round, reopens one month in Winter
In other countries, there can be a deadline a few rounds before playoffs .
(notice that France introduced a new rule with a winter market in February and no recruitment between summer and winter market)
 
Slide 6 : What about rookies ?
Salary for a rookie may be one half to two third of the average salary
European pro teams tend to sign less and less import rookies !
The level of bball in Europe is far higher than it used to be
The « Bosman » rule now allows a wider choice of players
Teams now prefer to sign vet import players already accustomed to Europe and who can immediately fit into the team systems
Example : only one rookie (Kyle Hill from Eastern Illinois) in France's 1st division (32 imports)
only 2 (Georgia Tech / Wisconsin) in France's 2nd division (36 imports)
Same applies in many countries
This means that unless you were in the NBA pre-draft lists or had tremendous reviews in a top NCAA D1 College, it will be difficult to start in a top pro league in Europe !
You will have to work your way up from either :
Some European countries where bball level is lower
A lower division of a « big » bball country (France, Italy .)
There, you will have to be very very good because top pro leagues coaches are generally « afraid » of recruiting a player coming from such leagues .
A vicious circle like we say in France .
 
Slide 7 : How do European coaches recruit ?
Top pro Leagues : there are of course several ways .
Top (and rich) pro teams scout H.S. and NCAA
Coaches attend showcase camps . of course !
Coaches have their yearly look at hundreds of video sent by hundreds of agents
Some teams simply rely on one local agent working for them since years
No use to contact such teams directly by yourself . Take into account that coaches there tend to sort out players from top college or who have already played in European top bball countries.
Lower leagues and lower division teams .
Coaches deal with local (or US agents) or through the help of people knowing import players
Coaches can consider resume and video sent directly to them
Addresses of teams can be found on many websites
The right package to be recruited is : a resume with recommendations and a good video featuring highlights + one or two complete games is mandatory
 
Slide 8 : Agents
A good agent will be among your best assets !
Since season 2007 2008 players and clubs can only use licensed FIBA agents!!!
So ask the license number of your agent.
A good agent is somebody who must know what he is talking about . (There are so many guys proposing players who aren't of the right level to European teams) and who will do more for you that finding you a team !
The good agent knows the level of bball in the countries he intends to propose you.
The good agent knows the local rules in terms of contracts, work rules, social security .
In some countries, only local agents can deal with teams.
The good agent will help you in case of problems with the team or health problem and will negotiate your release (in case of .)
This means that you must choose either a local agent or a US agent with strong relationships in Europe (ask him his references !).
You can, of course, try to negotiate by yourself or with a friend but beware of all the local specificities you aren't aware of (because the teams are !!!)
Lower div teams will rather deal directly with players (to avoid paying commission to agents).
 
Slide 9 : Now that you have a job, how can you have a successful career ?
European bball may be played differently than the way you are accustomed to :
Technical and tactical choices
Adapted defense on the pick and roll (no open shoots in Europe .)
First intention shooting .
Fouls and referees .
Take the time to learn our way of playing !
Living in Europe may prove difficult to sustained :
Language barrier (every day life may be a bit difficult)
Homesickness (generally around Xmas)
Smaller cities than in the USA
What to do between training sessions and games .
If you play in a lower div team, you may have to work beside bball .
Staff and infrastructures may be far lighter than what you were used to
These are things to consider when planning a career overseas.
Pay also attention to the fact that in some teams, you will be awaited as THE player (not a player but THE) with the associated risks and pressure and that results will be strongly associated to you . (especially when they are bad !).
By Fred Brossard fred@eurobasket.com