Trisonya Thompson Abraham, players’ agent, compares this choice to ” play russian roulette, no pun intended “. Like others, she regrets that some players are still considering moving to Russia for basketball, despite the situation of Brittney Griner.
According to USA Today, who devotes a long paper to the question, at least thirty basketball players have already confirmed their signing to join the top professional league in Russia. Among the boys, for example, it is a question of players who have failed to keep their place in the NBA, such as James Ennis, Vince Hunter or Malcolm Thomas.
” I think we should boycott this place. It is not fair. We shouldn’t support that, no matter how much money it is. Signing new contracts is completely disrespectful to Brittney Griner and to American women’s basketball “, thunders however Aaron Goodwin, an NBA agent, who says he alerted the NBA players’ union, and the agent of the imprisoned player, when Russian teams and agents approached him this summer to try to sign one of his clients.
The position of the Biden administration, which has been described as ” unacceptable “the detention of the Mercury player, is unequivocal on the issue: ban on travel to Russia for all American citizens” whatever the purpose of the trip “.
The contractual aspect at stake
But the prospect of signing a lucrative contract weighs in the balance for some players. We remember that a few years ago, Milos Teodosic had joined the Clippers with a less interesting contract than that offered by CSKA Moscow. We also remember that Cherelle Griner, when calling for the mobilization of Joe Biden about his companion, had deplored that the latter had to go abroad every year, “ because she can’t make enough money in the WNBA “.
” Typically, as an agent, I’d say, ‘I can sell you the basketball and financial aspect, but I’m not going to push you into a situation that would make you feel uncomfortable, hesitant or watch your back. Some players turned down opportunities in Russia and I can’t blame them. You’re there for 10 months, you can’t make up your mind and leave for fear that something will happen “, develops Andy Shiffman of Priority Sports which represents international players.
Hostage negotiation expert quoted by USA Today, Dani Gilbert considers that “ Americans are putting themselves in potential danger by traveling to countries where governments have shown a willingness to use their criminal justice systems to hold Americans hostage “. And he also recommends giving up such a career choice.
To see if the American basketball authorities come to take measures as strong as that of the France team which now closes its doors to players signing in Russia.
