League players cleared to compete overseas, federation says

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Basketball’s international  federation (FIBA) has given its approval for locked-out  National Basketball Association (NBA) players to compete  overseas during the work stoppage, it said yesterday.

“During a lockout NBA players… are free to play anywhere  they want, whether for their national teams and/or for club  teams,” FIBA said in a statement.

Any player who does compete overseas will do so at his own  risk, especially if injured, FIBA noted.
The clearance comes as more and more NBA players are  looking at overseas competition during the season-threatening  labor dispute between the league and its players union.

Deron Williams

New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams has already signed  with Turkish club Besiktas and Los Angeles Lakers All-Star  guard Kobe Bryant, one of the world’s top players, or his  representative is expected to meet with Besiktas officials on  Saturday to discuss the possibility of him also playing in  Turkey.

League scoring champion Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City  Thunder also could go overseas. He has said the move is about  50-50.

FIBA said the NBA would not object to international play  but would require players to return to their NBA teams as soon  as the lockout ends.

“As the world governing body for basketball, we strongly  hope that the labor dispute will be resolved as soon as  possible, and that the NBA season is able to begin as  scheduled,” FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann said in a  statement.

However he added: “In view of our role to promote  basketball worldwide, we support any player wishing to play the  game, wherever and whenever.”

The NBA was not immediately available for comment.
Players union executive director Billy Hunter supports  overseas play, saying it gives players a chance to earn a  living and stay in shape.

Whether top players can earn enough to make the move  financially rewarding is debatable, though.
The NBA locked out its players after talks on a new  collective bargaining agreement broke down on June 30.
The parties are far apart on how to resolve their dispute,  the league’s first work stoppage since 1998 when a lockout  shortened the season to 50 games.

They are scheduled to hold their first labor talks since  the lockout in New York next week.