The continuing lockout obviously means a lot of out of work basketball players, but remember there were some smart enough to take their talents overseas. New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams is playing in Turkey right now and seems to be doing quite well. He’s keeping a diary for ESPNNewYork
, which reads a little bit like a kid writing home to his parents from summer basketball camp, but it also shows he’s really adjusting well in Turkey. When all we hear from the lockout is whining and arguing, it’s really encouraging to see an NBA guy taking such a positive outlook.
“It’s great to be able to play organized basketball that means something. I know it’s something that a lot of players that are still in the United States miss a lot, and that’s why there have been a lot of guys who have come over this way to Europe and Asia”
Williams plays for a team called Besiktas. It’s his first time playing international basketball, besides the Olympics, but he says that doesn’t count because he was playing with a bunch of Americans.
To me, it seems like Williams is fitting in perfectly. His team is off to a solid start, winning their first Turkish game by 40 points. He says they even having him playing the two-guard a little bit, which is probably a nice change of pace. It seems like a great situation. There’s not nearly as much pressure to perform, and he can go out there and have fun. He gets to keep his game sharp while other NBA players are at home sitting on their couches waiting for something to happen. Not only that, but he gets to experience a whole new part of the world. Williams says his wife encouraged him to do this because she loves to travel, and she’s getting a great opportunity now. It’s like an extended vacation.
This is probably the best decision an NBA player could have made. I wonder how many of them are reading Williams’ diary wishing they had made the same choice.
