Not that long ago, LeBron James said that he would at least consider playing in Europe if he were to be offered about $50 million a year. But a lot of people shot that remark by LeBron down saying there was no way he'd ever leave the US for Europe. You know why people said that? Because we're xenophobes incredibly arrogant about our sports here in the US. We believe we have the best leagues in the world and that people should want to play in these leagues simply because of that fact.

But you know what. Everyone has a price. And for Kobe Bryant, $50 million sounds pretty damn good.

During a recent press conference, Bryant pretty much said he'd leave for Europe if he were to be offered that kind of loot.


See, what we have to remember here is that while pro basketball players are very well compensated, they're not Bill Gates. So there is a tipping point where the honor of playing in the NBA begins to fade in comparison to the all-mighty dollar.

Now, Bryant is a bit of a special case. He'd be 31 when he'd be out of his contract, whereas LeBron would be 25. Plus Kobe grew up in Italy, is fluent in Italian, has friends there, owns 50% of an Italian team, and, most importantly, doesn't make anywhere near the same money in endorsements as James does.

But, Kobe is still one of the best 2-guards in NBA history, and while he won't be at 31 what he was at 25, he's still going to be one hell of a player at 31.

Of course, one has to wonder who can fork over $50 million a year. But trust me, given the current strength of the Euro, and all the oil money in Russia, while $50 million a year is still a ridiculous amount, it's not that ridiculous. And if you know anything about what soccer team owners, like Roman Abramovich of Chelsea, will pay for players, and how they'll ignore the bottom line, then this is totally possible.

Also, don't think these statements by Bryant and James are falling on deaf ears in Europe.

I think, at this point in time, it's safe to say that in the next five years, the NBA will lose an All-Star player to a European team for at least one year if Stern doesn't change the NBA salary cap. And I don't think he will. He'll continue to believe that the NBA is the best basketball league in the world - which it is - and ignore what's happening. But in the end, that'll cost him. And it might just end his career as commissioner.

We can only hope.

Kobe to Italy? [Boston Globe]