With the lockout still in full effect, we've already lost
hundreds of NBA games as a result. What are the intentions of some of the
game's biggest names during this uncertain time? We give you part one of our
rundown.
So long November.
Labor negotiations for the NBA lockout have again broken down, meaning there's
essentially no hope anymore of a full 82-game schedule when (or if) a deal is
finally made.
The NBA's elite players are therefore having to adjust
accordingly. There have been charity games, exhibitions and the like, but are
there any concrete contingency plans for these superstars?
LeBron James
LeBron and a number of other big-time names were scheduled
to play in the World All-Star Classic in Puerto Rico, but he decided to pull
out along with a couple other players before the game was eventually disbanded.
Other than that, we haven't heard too much from the King
aside from his never-ending tweets. Just recently he was suggesting on twitter
than the Heat sign both Steve Nash and Jamal Crawford to shore up Miami's
backcourt.
The one thing we know for sure is that LeBron will not be
playing overseas even if the whole season is lost. The dude makes more money
endorsing products here in America than he does playing basketball anyway.
Kobe Bryant
Rumors have been flying around for months now about possible
foreign destinations for Kobe. Asia has been mentioned as have a few European
countries, including Italy where he spent some childhood years. No official
deal has been made despite intense speculation.
Bryant has also been heavily involved in the labor
discussions alongside his teammate, NBPA president Derek Fisher, over the past
few months.
Though he clearly wants himself and his fellow players to
get a fair shake, Bryant is also aware that time is ticking. The years are
starting to add up for #24 and losing a full season is the last thing Kobe,
who's chasing Michael Jordan's record for NBA rings, would want.
Kevin Durant
Durant has previously declared his interest in playing in
another country should the lockout continue. But nothing has materialized as of
yet.
The Durantula is, of course, hopeful a deal between the
owners and the players can be made as soon as possible and has been
participating in quite a few exhibition and charity games around the country in
order to keep fans involved.
Based on his actions, it looks as if Durant is keeping faith
that a compromise will eventually be reached. He won't make a decision on
playing overseas until his hand is forced.
Dwight Howard
One of many players who has hosted exhibition games during
this extended offseason, Howard is getting his basketball fix however possible.
At one point he was contemplating playing in China, that is
until the Chinese Basketball Association started to forbid players from having
'NBA-out' clauses in their contracts. Consequently, Howard has remained in the
States, working on his game with Hakeem Olajuwon and a new shooting coach.
Superman will be an unrestricted free agent in 2012, and the
chances are looking high that he'll be saying so long to Orlando. Should the
lockout wipe out the entire 2011/12 season, we could have seen the last of
Howard in a Magic jersey.
In part two, we'll see what Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul
among others have been up to during the lockout.