Why do we keep going on about these 2... Most boring threads, of the 'actual bball topics' on here.

@Kobe24 - Assuming that Don is correct in how European contracts are reported, I thought it was an interesting topic and might serve to dispel the rampant 'NBA watch' of every Australian playing overseas.

These salaries also put into perspective the discussion of marquee players, in another thread. People talked about making it attractive to get players like Newley and Ingles back in the NBL by allowing marquee players paid partially or totally outside the salary cap. From the numbers quoted in this thread, that just isn't practicable.

I think Don is exaggerating re $$, not to mention that European teams are notorious for promising a lot and delivering a little, especially if you're not starring on the court.

Few, if any players in Europe make the average NBA salary, but the real lure of the NBA is to prove yourself in the best league. Yes, the Euroleague is great, but the NBA is still the pinnacle.

the NBA actually pay ALL their players where as in Europe a ton of "Import" players are chasing Team Owners and Managers for Money that is owed.
So having a Contract worth X amount of dollars doesn't mean squat if they don't actually pay you.

It's hard to prove credibility on this forum, but they are very big numbers. When talking about playing career goals, NBA is all Aussie guys talk about, so I'm not buying what don is selling.

You can drill this down even further for NBA players as what state you reside in will dictate your net pay.

http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/implications-state-income-tax-policy-nba-franchise-success-tax-policy-professional-sports-an

I also recall readings somewhere that players try avoiding Toronto as they are taxed at a higher rate in Canada than they are in the USA.

Here is an example of baseballer's being traded to Canada and what that meant for their hip pocket http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/11/14/traded-marlins-players-will-take-2-million-tax-hit-in-canada/

"I hate to break it to you guys, but Euroleague and FIBA have STRICT salary rules.
No team is even allowed in the league at all if they don't play players in full.
FIBA won't even allow a team to even SIGN any players if they are not paying players.
Stop believing every propaganda nonsense that US media churns out."

Cool Story Bro, try telling Kirk Penney who is currently chasing owed wages from Spanish Team Baloncesto Fuenlabrada whom he played a season with before moving to Turkey.

The Greek teams are the worst especially at the moment with the way their economy is going. I talking to a player playing in that league he said that only Olympiacos and Panathinaikos pay on time if at all!

Unfortunately, the salary gap between high level Europe leagues and the NBL is such that even if Ingles only received 10% of his european money, he would still be earning as much as what he would in the NBL.

I think its clear Ogilvy came back to Australia because of necessity and not choice. He must not have been able to find a deal anywhere else.

I don't think that is necessarily true about Ogilvy. I think he could have found a deal elsewhere in Europe, but his number 1 focus for the next 12-14 months in making the Boomers team for the World Cup. To do that, he has to play regularly, and also work on a few aspects of his game. Given he can achieve both these things under a coach who knows what it takes to make it to the international level, and do it in his hometown, coming to Sydney for a season ended up being a great option. I would be very surprised to see Ogilvy in the NBL beyond next season, but you never know I suppose.

Also remember that while some players make big money in Europe a lot don't, the amount of money available in most countries there has dropped significantly in recent years as you would expect given the financial troubles most of the continent is facing.