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How hard is it to play basketball overseas
How to Play Basketball Overseas - Step by Step Guide
The goal of any athlete is to make a living playing the sport they love. In basketball, if you don’t make it to the NBA or the NBA G League, there are hundreds of other leagues around the world where you can live out your dreams of making good money playing basketball. This step-by-step guide will break down the steps on how to play basketball overseas.
Table of Contents
Step 1:
Play at the highest level in your home country
How to play basketball overseas for Americans image by EuroProBasket
You need experience playing at the highest level to get the most interest from teams overseas. So your goal should be to make it to the top level wherever you are currently living and playing.
American Players
Ncaa D1 – Teams overseas know that there is a ranking system in the USA that has Ncaa D1 at the top followed by Ncaa D2 and Ncaa D3. NAIA is still not completely clear to a lot of teams overseas but can still provide good experience.
Canadian USPORTS is becoming more known to teams across the pond. The Canadian NBL is a great option for quality experience.
Juco and high school experience is usually not enough to get serious interest from teams overseas. That is if you are not ranked in the nation such as LaMelo Ball or Brandon Jennings. Go for a 4 year University program at the highest level possible.
AAU and shoe sponsored club teams will help you get exposure to Universities but will rarely get you enough exposure to get overseas.
If your time has passed with University eligibility or it’s just not for you, the best option is getting on a semi-pro team. Make sure you read the last section of the article if you fall under this category.
International Players
Club Teams – For International players, this is the only way to play basketball competitively. Work to get on the best club team in your city or town.
Junior National Team – Your goal should be to play for your country’s national team. The senior team would be the ultimate goal but junior teams will get you exposure.
Step 2: Get Stats
Get stats – How to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket
If you go Ncaa D1 and don’t get any minutes, struggle to get stats, then you will also struggle to get interest from teams overseas.
Go D2 and be an All-American. That will get you great playing experience, and quality stats, which could lead to a professional contract.
NCAA, NAIA, USPORTS, international club teams and leagues; got those numbers up while adding value to your team.
Make sure you know where to locate your stats. Keep track of them and add them to your resume at the end of every season.
Step 3: Get Video
Game film is your way to show your talent, athleticism and decision making skills to teams around the world. Video is the 2nd step in your search of how to play basketball overseas.
One Highlight Per Season – Sum up every season you play with a highlight. Teams, coaches, agents…like to get a quick glimpse of how you move and shoot. This will peak their interest and get them to consider watching some of your full games.
Two Full Gamesper Season – This is pretty self explanatory but you need two full games per season played. this is a minimum. Some teams may ask for more. Make sure they are the best games you have played, both on offense and defense.
You should be in control of your own film. Make a YouTube channel, vimeo or sign up for another streaming service. Membership is free and you can upload as many videos as you want.
Acceptable Video – YOU Need to Read This
The quality of the competition is absolutely critical to getting a team overseas to watch your video. Low level and disorganized competition will not gain any attention from clubs overseas.
Open gyms, open runs, YMCA, Juco or high school is not high enough quality to get the interest from contacts overseas. You need to get the highest competition possible. Playing against adults in an organized competitive environment.
NCAA, NAIA, USPORTS are the best options for players from America. International players can use their country’s local competitions. The higher the level of competition the better.
Semi-Pro Leagues in the USA can be good options as well. Not all teams overseas will consider it but many will. It is important your team is organized and the competition is high level. Good effort on defense. Running organized sets and plays on offense.
Overseas Basketball Combine , exposure camps, and showcases in the USA will not get you a team’s interest. Take our word for it, or read this article for reasons why teams do not consider it a viable option to scout players.
More information on why USA overseas basketball combine film will not help you get overseas below.
Overseas Tour game film can work well due to the fact that you are usually playing overseas teams. Be selective on which tour you go on. If you take a tour to Latin America, don’t expect to use the film to help you get on a team in Europe.
Workout videos or clips of yourself working out will rarely get you anywhere. If you have some solid game film and you have had a few months off, it is possible that a team will want to see some workout film to make sure you are in shape. This is usually not the case though.
Mixtapes and slow-mo video clips are cool but not beneficial for coaches and scouts. It will get you some props from your friends and IG followers but will do nothing to get you signed.
EuroProBasket game film – Players in the EuroProBasket program play weekly games against European teams. The leagues that EuroProBasket team plays teams in are recognized around Spain and the rest of Europe. If you are asking yourself How to Play Basketball Overseas, we have your answer here in Valencia, Spain: Register to be part of EuroProBasket’s Professional Placement Program here.
Step 4: Get a Passport
Bosman A, Bosman B, Cotonou passports image via EuroProBasket
You cannot leave your country without a passport, with a few exceptions, which are not worth mentioning for this article.
You will need that passport to travel and on many occasions to register for an international team or league. Take care of that before you start your plans to go abroad.
Dual Citizenship and its Benefits in Overseas Basketball
You may have heard of players being dual citizens or having dual passports. This is one of the first things we recommend our players at EuroProBasket to look into.
If your parents were born in another country or have their citizenship in another country, you are eligible to receive yours as well.
You could possibly be eligible for another citizenship if your grandparents were born in another country. Do some research on your family’s historical background as it will greatly benefit you.
Why having dual citizenship is important?
If you have a European passport for example, you will be considered a European player instead of an import player. No visa is required to register you to a team and there are 3-5 times as many roster spots available for European Bosman A passport holders than there are for import players, or USA passport holders.
If you have citizenship in a specific country, it doesn’t matter the country, and there is a professional basketball league in that country, you will most likely be considered a local player. This has many benefits and will prolong your professional playing and even coaching career indefinitely.
Bosman A – Bosman B – Cotonou – The Differences
Bosman A
These passports are for citizens of the European Union. There are 27 countries in the EU with a few exceptions that are added to the list of Bosman A players. This is arguably the most beneficial passport to have in overseas basketball. You can find some interesting information about the bosman ruling and how it changed European and Ncaa basketball here.
Bosman B
These passports are countries in Europe but excluded from the European Union. Most European leagues have roster spots reserved for players with these passports. Registration to the league is typically less expensive than an import players registration. Players will need a visa to play and work in the country in which the team is located.
Cotonou
These passports are from developing countries, or third world countries in Africa and many Island Nations. Many leagues in Europe (Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland,ect…) have roster spots specifically for these passport holders. Their registration fee to the league is cheaper for the team. They too need a visa to work and play in the country where the team is located. More about the cotonou agreement here.
Bosman A, Bosman B and Cotonou Countries Table
Bosman A
Bosman B
Cotonou
Cotonou cont…
Andorra (AND)
Albania (ALB)
Angola (ANG)
Liberia (LIB)
Austria (AUT)
Armenia (ARM)
Anguilla (ANL)
Macau (MAC)
Belgium (BEL)
Azerbaijan (AZE)
Antigua (ANT)
Madagascar (MAD)
Bulgaria (BUL)
Belarus (BLR)
Aruba (ARU)
Mali (MLI)
Croatia (CRO)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BIH)
Bahamas (BAH)
Marshall Islands (MAI)
Cyprus (CYP)
Georgia (GEO)
Barbados (BAR)
Mauritania (MTN)
Czech Rep. (CZE)
Gibraltar (GIB)
Belize (BIZ)
Mauritius Island (MAU)
Denmark (DEN)
Israel (ISR)
Botswana (BOT)
Micronesia (MCR)
Estonia (EST)
Moldova (MDA)
Burkina Faso (BUR)
Mozambique (MOZ)
Finland (FIN)
Montenegro (MNT)
Burundi (BDI)
Namibia (NAM)
France (FRA)
North Macedonia (MKD)
Cameroon (CMR)
Nauru (NRU)
Germany (GER)
Russia (RUS)
Cape Verde (CPV)
Nigeria (NGR)
Greece (GRE)
San Marino (SMR)
Central Africa (CAF)
Palau (PLW)
Holland (NED)
Scotland (SCO)
Chad (CHA)
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Hungary (HUN)
Serbia (SRB)
Cook Islands (COK)
Rwanda (RWA)
Iceland (ISL)
Switzerland (SUI)
Cuba (CUB)
Saint Kitts (SKN)
Ireland (IRL)
Turkey (TUR)
Dominica (DMA)
Saint Lucia (SLA)
Italy (ITA)
Ukraine (UKR)
Dominican Rep. (DOM)
St. Vincent & Grenadines (VIN)
Kosovo (KOS)
United Kingdom (ENG)
Eritrea (ERI)
Samoa (SAM)
Latvia (LAT)
Wales (WAL)
Ethiopia (ETH)
Senegal (SEN)
Lithuania (LTU)
Fiji (FIJ)
Seychelles (SEY)
Luxembourg (LUX)
Gabon (GAB)
Sierra Leone (SLE)
Malta (MLT)
Gambia (GAM)
Solomon Islands (SOL)
Norway (NOR)
Ghana (GHA)
South Africa (RSA)
Poland (POL)
Grenada (GRN)
Sudan (SUD)
Portugal (POR)
Guam (GUM)
Suriname (SUR)
Romania (ROM)
Guinea (GUI)
Tanzania (TAN)
Slovak Rep. (SVK)
Guinea Bissau (GBS)
Tonga (TGA)
Slovenia (SLO)
Guyana (GUY)
Trinidad and Tobago (TRI)
Spain (ESP)
Haiti (HAI)
Turks and Caicos (TKS)
Sweden (SWE)
Ivory Coast (IVO)
Uganda (UGA)
Jamaica (JAM)
Vanuatu (VAN)
Kenya (KEN)
Zambia (ZAM)
Lesotho (LES)
Zimbabwe (ZIM)
Bosman A, Bosman B, Cotonou Countries List chart by EuroProBasket
Step 5: Make a Player Bio, CV or Resume
Player Resume – How to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket
Include Personal Information, picture playing or in a professional outfit
Include stats for every season, as detailed as possible as to not have team searching (remember teams and agents go through hundreds every week)
Add Highlight links and full game links so they are clickable
Add whatever accolades and achievements
Add references if you like
Save it in a pdf and have it on file so you can update it
Make it organized and professional looking
It only needs to be one or two pages
Leave out the self explanation, self scouting and NBA player comparison
Remember, less text is better, English is the 2nd, 3rd or 4th language of the person looking over your bio
Have it ready to send on your phone
We made an article specifically on how to make a basketball resume which can be found below.
Step 6: Network – How to Play Basketball Overseas
Use current contacts with coaches, trainers and teammates
Create and use social media accounts, most contacts abroad have facebook, linkedin and twitter. Some have instagram accounts.
Create your own website with all of your stats and video links if you can.
Step 7: Find an Agent – How To Play Basketball Overseas
A basketball agent will have the contacts to help you get your career started overseas. There is a lot you need to know about overseas agents though. We covered every detail in the article below.
Step 8: Best Opportunities to Play Overseas Basketball
Best opportunities to play overseas basketball image via EuroProBasket
Visit the country you want to play
You’ve attempted Steps 1 through 7 of how to play basketball overseas. You still don’t have a team. Here are your options.
If you want to play in Japan, go to Japan and present yourself to teams. It is a big risk and very expensive but If you can walk in a gym and tryout for a team it makes your chances much higher that the team will give you an opportunity to sign with them.
There are obvious downsides to this option. Many teams only allow a certain amount of import players. Higher level teams have specific needs and there is a chance that you are not that exact fit for the team.
Showcase or Exposure Camp
Showcases in the USA are hit or miss. More miss than hit. Too many players, un-organized open run type of basketball. Most teams cannot afford to send a coach or GM to the US to scout a group of players. It is much easier and less expensive for them to contact an agent for players with professional experience.
Live streams mean a busy person needs to take time out to watch, taken into account the time difference. Don’t fall for the gimmick many camps and combines in the USA try to sell to players.
Agent showcases can be a good option. Usually only the top one or two players will be interesting for the agency.
Basketball Academies & Overseas Tours
These options take more of an investment but what is a career in basketball worth to you? Put yourself in the middle of a country or region that you are interested in living and playing basketball.
Downsides to a tour is that it can be difficult to get a good rhythm and perform in just a week or 10 days. You don’t have much time to practice and get accustomed to your tour team. You will be moving from one location to nother with many hours of travel. Tours are really difficult to time as teams sign players at different times of the year, so when is the best week for the tour? Your guess is as good as theirs…
Some are organized and done by professionals, most are disorganized and can be very uncomfortable and in some cases scary.
A basketball academy is your best all around option. If you want the most legit shot at going pro then why not select the best basketball academy, with the longest history of helping players sign with teams in Europe? Located in the largest basketball facilities in Europe in collaboration with one of the biggest clubs in Europe. EuroProBasket will help you get to the next level.
The best and most secure opportunity to start your professional basketball career overseas is with EuroProBasket International Academy. Here are 21 reasons why.
Sign up for the most successful professional placement program here:
Essentials to Play Basketball Overseas
Essentials to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket
For many players these essentials to play basketball overseas will just be reminders. but still crucial to your success playing basketball overseas.
Complete Your Collegiate Playing Career
No one is going to deny that for an American player the most important and useful experience you can have is from a University basketball program.
There is no better place to get high level coaching and competition then in the American University system.
You cannot substitute the 4 years of basketball knowledge, coaching, experience, physical growth and mental maturity that a collegiate basketball career will give you.
That’s not to mention the actual degree that you can receive, paid for have you, from the University you attend.
Stay in school if you want a better chance at playing professional basketball.
Stay Prepared – How To Play Basketball Overseas
The worst thing that can happen is that you get a tryout and are not in game shape
You should be lifting weights, conditioning (running, sprints, hills, stairs, bike, plyometrics) skill work, playing 1v1 and 5v5.
Get with other overseas professional players and workout with them.
If you are not sure how to prepare, hire a professional basketball trainer that can help prepare a plan for you.
Be Active Networking and Making Contacts
Everyday is a new opportunity to meet someone that can help you in your pursuit to play basketball overseas.
Use your current contacts with coaches, teammates and trainers to reach new contacts.
When you meet people involved in basketball, exchange contact information with them. Reach out to them and develop a relationship.
Use social media to make new contacts around the world.
These are the suggestions on how to play basketball overseas by International Scout and CEO of EuroProbasket International Academy in Spain, Brad Kanis.
How to Play Basketball Overseas (3 General Steps)
Playing professional basketball is a goal of many amateur basketball players. Getting paid to play the game you love is a dream come true and beats any “real world” job you could have once your playing days are far behind you. But the odds of playing in the NBA or WNBA as a high schooler are less than one percent.
So, if you want to hold out hope of playing professionally, and aren’t good enough to cut it in the NBA, what are your options?
You’re in luck! Because there is a vast professional basketball scene overseas. This article will take a look at the world of professional basketball overseas and how you could potentially play basketball overseas.
Contents
Explaining Professional Basketball Overseas
1. Euroleague
2. Spain’s La Liga ACB
3. Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL)
How Do You Play Overseas?
NBA Stars That Began Overseas
Pau Gasol
Manu Ginobili
Luka Doncic
In Closing
Explaining Professional Basketball Overseas
There is a vast world of professional basketball being played in nearly every country around the globe. Many people just aren’t aware of or don’t care about, the basketball being played in these leagues. And who is to blame those people. Between the NBA’s exciting seasons and frantic off-seasons, and with the popularity and talent of the college game, you can’t blame a fan for not being aware of basketball elsewhere.
Most of the top-level talent when it comes to overseas basketball begins and ends in Europe. Europe’s basketball leagues are run similar to their soccer leagues in that they demote the two worst teams in the league and promote the two best teams from a lower division to the upper league each season. To put that in perspective, can you imagine the NBA demoting the Golden State Warriors this season if they continued to have the league’s worst record?
1. Euroleague
I cheated a bit on this selection. European professional leagues are trickier than the NBA due to their schedule. Each European club plays league games and if club teams are successful enough, they play in what is referred to as the Euroleague, which is a mix of the best teams in Europe. The Euroleague consists of a tournament between these best teams.
For any soccer fans out there, the Euroleague is basketball’s equivalent to the Champion’s League in soccer. Like soccer, while the Champion’s League is essentially Europe’s best clubs squaring off, their league play can be very competitive as well. Below are a couple of the best leagues in the world.
2. Spain’s La Liga ACB
As is the case in soccer, this is Spain’s top basketball league and it has been largely dominated by their two most successful clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Some notable players from that league that NBA fans would recognize are the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau, Kristaps Porzingis, and the most recent star to emerge from that prestigious league, the NBA’s 2019 Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic.
3. Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL)
A league whose basketball roots date back to 1904 in Turkey, the BSL has produced high-quality play due to the endless amount of energy and, more importantly money, that the country has invested in the league. Some say it may surpass Spain’s league in the near future in terms of talent and quality play. Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt cut his teeth in the BSL which earned him his positive reputation.
How Do You Play Overseas?
Now that we have taken a brief look at what exactly playing overseas consists of, let’s dive into the best steps to take in order to have a chance at playing overseas. Something to remember before we dive into the list is that every player’s path is different and these steps may not work well for everyone. They are all solid places to start researching as many current and former overseas players have endorsed them. Let’s get going!
1. Highlight Reel
Highlight reels help players at every level to craft the best parts of their game into one succinct place for coaches and scouts. Highlight reels got their start for high schoolers looking to take their game a step further and play in college. They would create a reel of their best play and send it out to college coaches. It is a way for players to take a proactive approach in their recruitment process instead of waiting to get noticed.
The same principle goes for a highlight reel for someone looking to play overseas. It is well known that no overseas league has the type of financial backing to send their scouts across the world for just any old reason. They pick their spots on who they make a big effort to scout, and if you aren’t one of those players sending them your highlights may get you a tryout.
2. Exposure Camps & Academies
As I stated earlier, overseas scouts are going to pick their spots when it comes to traveling to watch new talent. Exposure camps and basketball academies are an ideal place for them to find talent because of the volume of basketball players they can watch in a short amount of time.
After researching some of these camps, it brought me back to my childhood and adolescence because the camps are literally set up like regular basketball camps, only the end goal is to earn a job playing professional basketball. They schedule out everything, from meals to mandatory rest times, to time in the pool for recovery. Representatives from overseas leagues attend and look for their next talent.
Yes, these camps and academies cost money, but look at it as an investment as opposed to a “cost”.
3. Network
This sage advice can be said about almost anything in life, but sometimes it is who you know to help get your foot in the door. If you play college basketball, chances are that your coach has dealt with professional scouts across many leagues and skill levels. If you are a hard worker and a good kid, your coach will almost certainly make a few phone calls to help you out.
Networking is a way to get more jobs as well. If you have been fortunate to have already played overseas, then use the coaches, team staff, and former teammates to pass your name and information along to anyone they may know that can assist.
Related: Overseas Basketball Salaries By Country
NBA Stars That Began Overseas
These talented NBA players got their start overseas, primarily because they were all foreign-born and before excelling in their home leagues, a chance at an NBA roster spot for them was a pipe dream.
These players transitioning from overseas to the NBA is not the norm, but when you see the list you will understand that these superstars were not your ordinary overseas pros.
Pau Gasol
This 6-time All-Star and 2-time NBA champion began his pro career in Spain on Spanis league powerhouse Barcelona. He came off the bench early in his career as a youngster on the team. Gasol’s big break was when Barcelona won the Spanish National Cup in 2001 and Gasol was named the tournament MVP. The rest was history as he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks (traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night) and went on to star on the Grizzlies and Lakers.
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili spent seven years overseas, from 1995 to 2002, before his big break in the NBA. The Spurs drafted Ginobili in 1999 and he waited three more years before joining them. In the meantime, Manu led his Kinder Bologna team to two straight Italian League Championships and a Euroleague title. Manu also starred on Argentina’s International team, making the all-tournament team at the 2002 FIBA Championship.
Luka Doncic
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year earned his stellar reputation playing overseas beginning at the ripe old age of sixteen. Not only was he playing pro at sixteen, but he was playing at Real Madrid, one of the most famous Spanish basketball teams ever. At eighteen, he won the MVP of the Euroleague, and his star was on the rise. Doncic made the leap to the NBA after the 2017-18 season and was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks.
In Closing
Overseas basketball, while not as popular and highly skilled as the NBA, is nothing to scoff at. The product is high level and it shows with the type of talent that has come from overseas to thrive in the NBA. If you want to become an overseas player, you need to work on your game and follow some of the tips we discussed in the article. Talent can get you very far, but due to the unorthodox business of professional basketball, every little bit of effort helps.
Have you ever thought about playing pro basketball overseas? Tell us about it below!
As a legionnaire. Evgeny Kolesnikov gives advice to players who want to play abroad - Ferris Wheel - Blogs
Lately, I have been asked several times to talk about how to go to play abroad. Unlike hockey players, basketball players from Russia do not leave to play in other championships as often. I will not go into the reasons for this fact, I will only say that the experience of playing abroad was useful and interesting for me.
Mostly young guys ask if it is worth leaving, how to do it and what to pay attention to. Remembering my experience of playing in Latvia and Spain, this time I will try to give a couple of tips to those who are thinking about conquering overseas clubs.
Another championship, another country, and you are in the role of a foreign player, which means you have to play better than your peers from the country where you came. Sometimes stronger than those who are older than you for a year or two. It turns out that you have to make more efforts abroad than at home, even to play in a relatively weak championship. So, if you, for example, go to the championship of Poland or Estonia and play the same way as your peer from this country, then there is a high probability that he will be preferred to you. Moreover, if the coach is from the same country where you are going, he will develop his own player. So you need to go abroad only if you are ready to plow in full, to become better, otherwise - if you just want to try your hand - you should not go, in this case you can go to the sea and relax there. If you prove yourself, then you have a chance to gain a foothold in the team.
In general, I tend to think that the experience of playing abroad is necessary for a basketball player: you learn a lot of things that are difficult for you to understand playing at home. To understand, for example, how the legionnaires who play in your country feel. Yes, in each country they are treated differently - somewhere better, somewhere worse. But in any country, questions in case of a loss, first of all, are asked in the team by legionnaires. In Russia, the requirements for foreign players are also high: after all, the level of the teams is high, the clubs play in addition to the domestic championship in the Euroleague, the European Cup.
I went abroad to Latvia at the age of 20. This is the age when the player has not yet fully formed in men's basketball. You are no longer a young man, but not a man either, and you are not 100% ready for tough men's basketball, you have no experience in making decisions in key matches. Coaches and club leaders tend to sign those who have such experience, or who have already proven themselves. So it’s difficult to be in the cage at the age of 20, it doesn’t always work out. It is no secret that many young players find it difficult to find a team in which they could prove themselves. Now agents are very helpful in finding the right team. In my youth, there were not so many agents, and they did not help much in this matter: it was just that this profession was not yet so developed.
I then had a choice: either go and play in the League below the Superleague level (at that time) of the Russian Championship, or leave. And I understood that it was better to leave for a championship weaker than the Super League, but try to gain a foothold there. Nobody guaranteed me a place there: they just said that they would take me to see it for a few days. At the end of the week's viewing, I could have been contracted until the end of the season with options for extending it. I left Russia in the status of one of the best players in my position at my age, but at the same time I was clearly aware that a place in the new team was not at all guaranteed for me. The main thing is that I had a great desire to work, to improve my skills. So I came to Riga, to the VEF, and literally the next day the representatives of the club informed me that they wanted to sign a contract with me. The review consisted in the fact that they gave me a few exercises to perform, and the second coach looked at my execution technique. The chief appreciated my interactions with future teammates. The joy that the contract was signed lasted one day. Then came, as they say, harsh everyday life. I understood that it was good to get into the team, but now I needed to gain a foothold in it.
As a result, I spent a year and a half at VEF: having arrived in January, I played half of one season, and then I was extended to the next one. I liked the team in Latvia, I felt that I was improving in terms of developing my skills, that's why I stayed at the club after the first season. The fact that the Russian language is quite common in Latvia was also a plus when adapting - many people either speak it or understand it. Of course, it would be more difficult for me to adapt in a non-Russian-speaking country.
The second time I went to play in a foreign club as an already formed man, a player who has proven himself in Russia. Now it was already far abroad. And here I felt the difference between my stay in my youth in Latvia and in a more mature one - in Spain. On the one hand, in youth, many things are easier. The same language comes easier. In Spain, for example, it is necessary to learn the language. In almost every club, players are required to know Spanish, communication in another language, one might say, is not welcome. Of course, most of the players speak English, but still those legionnaires who come at the beginning of the season are required to study Spanish. The club provides teachers who train the players. I can’t say that this practice is established in every Spanish club, but I think that 80 percent of the legionnaires who played in Spain speak or at least understand the language and partially speak it, they can explain themselves. I came to Spain, to Obradoiro, in the middle of the season, so I didn’t study the language, but the players from Ukraine, Lithuania, Greece, who arrived before the start of the season, spoke Spanish. So, if a player wants to play in Spain, he must at least speak English, because Spanish is taught from English. Knowledge of English will generally make it easier if you want to build a career abroad. Everything here is like in any other profession. By speaking and understanding English, you will understand the coach and be able to communicate with teammates.
As for living conditions, it all depends on what kind of life the player is used to - whether he feels comfortable in a hostel, or he definitely needs a mansion for life. When I arrived in Riga, Max Sheleketo and I lived in a three-room apartment, and Roma Gumenyuk from Ukraine also lived with us. In the second season, I lived alone in the Old Town in an apartment provided by the club. He had to share an apartment with another legionnaire, but he agreed and paid extra from his salary for the opportunity to live alone. The salary was low, but I did not want to share housing with someone. Now I understand that then it would be better to live with a foreigner. But at the time, I was worried that my level of English would not allow me to communicate with an American or a Canadian. Of course, these were youthful complexes. There is no need to be afraid to speak, all legionnaires from far abroad are ready and willing to communicate. Over time, we began to communicate outside the site, but, naturally, living with one of them, I would have learned English faster. So my advice to young players is to communicate, practice the language. In the hostel, people get along with each other. Although not all and not with all. A player from overseas can constantly talk to his family, located in a different time zone, at 2-3 a.m., which can cause discomfort to a neighbor: it will be difficult to get enough sleep.
As for housing in Spain, the club I played for partly owns the house where the foreign players are accommodated. In this house there are apartments for every taste - with a different number of rooms. So the club selects accommodation just for you. If something is missing in the apartment, then within one or two days the club employees will deliver everything. Before I arrived, they asked me what I was eating, and they filled the refrigerator with exactly the products that I indicated: i.e. after arrival, I did not have to go, look for a store and buy groceries. In Spain, in general, the organization of life is at a very high level. I lived there alone, without a family, because. the children at that time were small, it was difficult to transport them to another country, and my wife and I decided not to do this. So I didn’t have any special requirements for the apartment.
In the VTB League, clubs usually allocate a certain amount to players for housing rent, and also give phone numbers of real estate agents who work with the club. You can find housing for this amount or pay extra from your own. In the NBA, players do everything themselves, but you need to understand that the salaries and, accordingly, the demands of players in the overseas league are often incomparable with the demands of those who play in Europe. So there is no point in making comparisons in this matter.
In general, my friends, if you want to play abroad, first of all I advise you to improve your English.
Then analyze your game realistically, not in the clouds. Evaluate your level - you play in the U20 team or in the School or student league. Objectively assess what level at your age you can reach. Compare yourself to the best players in your category and see if you are at the top, in the middle, or just below that level. Dreams are great, but you have to think realistically. Everyone dreams of playing in the NBA, but is everyone ready to spend a lot of effort to get there? Look at Doncic, for example. He started out as the best of his age, got into the national team early, then almost immediately across the ocean. But there are few such players.
After evaluating your skill level, see what championships you can play in. In my opinion, the championships of the Baltic countries, Serbian, Spanish and Italian are preferable for young players. In the clubs of these countries, you can add, besides, they have specialists who can train young players. Serbia and Lithuania have long been famous for the training of personnel and the development of youth basketball. In these countries, the players in the transition from youth to adult level are given a lot of attention. But here you also need to understand that small Serbia has a sufficient number of its players, and the competition in the teams is high.
Now agents who have connections in several countries at once and can negotiate with clubs to view the young talent are working with might and main with young players. Often a basketball player goes to see at the expense of the club, sometimes at his own expense. So my other piece of advice is don't be shy about going to the screenings. Even if you don't make the team, find out what you need to work on, what to develop in your game, and go to the next review. Professional athletes are not born, they are made. Somewhere they will tell you that you can’t do anything, it’s not scary, wind it up, study, work and try your hand at another team.
An important prerequisite for further success is the desire of the coach to see a player in his team. It is important for every basketball player to find their mentor. If the coach is interested in you, then consider that with a probability of 40% you will be able to prove yourself. The remaining 60% of success depends on your performance.
When evaluating a future team and your chance to play in it, be sure to watch its matches, especially the game of those two or three, sometimes four people who act in your position. Perhaps the team needs reinforcement, but they take you not as the main, but as an auxiliary player. Are you ready for this arrangement? Still, sitting on the bench at a young age does not have the best effect on career development. So it is imperative to evaluate the players in your position, it is worth understanding whether you can play better than them, and due to what you can be better. For example, you see your competitor in position scoring from the pass, but he does not have a three-point shot. Then, in order to gain a foothold in the lineup, you must have a three-pointer, and a pass, and something else - for example, you must play defense. In general, you definitely need to be better in a number of components than those who play in the same position.
If you want to play in a team playing in Eurocups, to shine on the European arena, then keep in mind that young people are rarely given a chance in such teams. Such clubs take in high-level legionnaires and do not give many chances to prove themselves to young people. In these clubs, you have to be prepared to work very, very hard and not always get the opportunity to play. It is better, in my opinion, to give preference to teams that do not play at a high level, but give experience to a young basketball player. Your task in this case, I repeat, is to develop new qualities for your future career. Also, don't worry, scouts can now track the games of any team. And when you start playing for the national team at your age, you are seen at various championships. Scouts of the VTB League teams are constantly watching those who play in Europe. By the way, playing in a European club increases a player's chances of being signed by a VTB League club. But you need to be ready at home to start all over again from scratch.
If you want to develop, don't be afraid to go to a weaker league than your home league. Play there, gain experience, prove yourself. As a rule, if a player proves himself, then he receives an offer from a stronger championship. Let me tell you about my experience: having played in Latvia, I received offers from Germany, Greece and Russia. In Russia, the formation of teams begins earlier than in these countries: it takes place at least as soon as the season ends. And it so happened that at the time when the Russian club came up with a formalized offer, foreign clubs were still forming an offer, and their desire to see me in their ranks was only in words. My agent and I made a joint decision to give preference to a club from our home country. If the proposals had arrived at the same time, then perhaps after Latvia I would have left for another European championship and continued my career in Europe. So, think about which option is more interesting for you, be guided by your motives and act.
How can an athlete from Russia get into the NCAA? Answers to parents' questions, part 1 - Sports and study in the USA - Blogs
In this article we will give our point of view on the question that many parents who want to send their children to study and play sports in the USA ask:
" Where is it better for an athlete to go to a university in America, after graduating from school in Russia / in his own country, or is it better to go to school in America for at least 1-2 years and go to university after graduating from an American school? The center of the Russian team - Sasha Kaun as part of Kansas University (left) and Florida Air Academy (right, school team in the USA). We will try to consider this issue in detail and give our point of view on it.
(the article will be in 2 parts, because there is a lot of information).
Are you interested that your child, who goes in for this or that sport, enters a university in America, where he can play his sport at the highest level, fully combining sports with getting a quality education Unfortunately, in Russia it is impossible to combine sports and study (at least at the university level), because with us you either study or go in for sports, it is impossible to combine both. And the level of sports, as well as the level of education in our country in recent years, leaves much to be desired. Take any lists of the Top 100 best universities in the world - at least 70% of the list will be American universities, from Russian universities, God forbid, you can see Moscow State University, Baumanka or HSE (and then at the end of the rankings).
It's no secret that American university education is considered one of the most prestigious in the world, and ordinary students pay an average of $40,000-60,000 a year to study at American universities.
Many parents of athletes know that universities in the US can provide athletic scholarships, ie. provide partial or full funding to athletes for the duration of their studies at the university, in return for the fact that the athlete will represent the university team in a particular sport.
That is why the parents of many athletes dream that their children go to universities in the USA, because this is an opportunity to receive a high-class education for free (or with a large amount of funding), fully combining study with sports.
Where is it better for an athlete to try to enter a university in America, directly from Russia/his country after graduation, or first go to school in America for some time and enter a university after graduating from an American school?
We believe that it is much more expedient for an athlete to first unlearn at least 1 year at school in America, and then go to university. Let's explain why and give arguments in support of our point of view: - The level of sports in schools and universities in America.
The most popular collegiate sports in the USA (basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, football) are at a very high level and the teams are future professionals. Accordingly, in order to receive a full scholarship to a college or university in the United States, an athlete must perform at a really high level.
Euroleague Under 18 Video Stella Azzurra (Italy) - Cedevita (Croatia) Athletes from abroad who do not compete at the high school level in the US will only be judged by university coaches by their videos. A coach carries far more risks when he takes a person from abroad on video than a player he can see live at an American high school competition.
In schools in the US, the level of sports is slightly lower compared to the student level and, accordingly, it will be easier for foreigners to adapt in terms of sports. Also, the requirements for an athlete to receive a sports scholarship to school will be lower than for an athlete entering a university. A foreign athlete who will compete at the school level in the United States has the opportunity to light up live in front of university coaches. In addition, the athlete will develop in a much more competitive sports environment than in his own country, with high-level coaches, which will allow him to come to university more prepared in sports terms by the time he graduates from school.
An example of a basketball player from Russia who first spent 2 years at the school level in the USA and then entered a prestigious university is Mark Tikhonenko.
Mark Tikhonenko (b. 1998, 206cm), son of Valery Tikhonenko, Olympic Champion in the USSR national team, is spending his 2nd year at the school level in the USA at Hamilton Heights School in Tennessee. At the beginning of the current academic year, Mark accepted an offer for a full sports scholarship from Arkansas State University and from next year he will play in the 1st division of the NCAA. A very important difference between studying in an American school is that in America they usually finish school at 18-19years. This is due to the fact that children go to the first grade later, and also study in their schools for twelve years. For this reason, for those who graduate from a Russian school at the age of 16-17, it would be more expedient to enter the senior classes of an American school for one or two years.
It will be very difficult for athletes from Russia, immediately after leaving school at 16-17 years old, to adapt to the level of training of American athletes in college / university, who are stronger and older. Because of this, it will be difficult to get enough playing time, as well as financial support (scholarship) from the educational institution. At school, there will be more game practice, which means that there is a high probability that the athlete will be noticed by coaches from good colleges / universities. In the second part of the article, we will highlight the rest of the nuances and arguments in favor of going to school in America to prepare for entering the university NCAA leagues.________________________________________________________________________________________
Author: Alexander Skryagin If you have any questions about sports and studies in the USA or you are interested in the possibility of entering schools, colleges or universities in the USA, you can contact me in the following ways:
My blog, where you can find out more information about sports in the US and Europe, as well as about players from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries playing abroad: vk.
Make sure you read the last section of the article if you fall under this category.
Membership is free and you can upload as many videos as you want.
It will get you some props from your friends and IG followers but will do nothing to get you signed.
This is one of the first things we recommend our players at EuroProBasket to look into. 
This has many benefits and will prolong your professional playing and even coaching career indefinitely.
Many leagues in Europe (Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland,ect…) have roster spots specifically for these passport holders. Their registration fee to the league is cheaper for the team. They too need a visa to work and play in the country where the team is located. More about the cotonou agreement here.
(CZE)
(DOM)
It is a big risk and very expensive but If you can walk in a gym and tryout for a team it makes your chances much higher that the team will give you an opportunity to sign with them.
Usually only the top one or two players will be interesting for the agency.
EuroProBasket will help you get to the next level.
Reach out to them and develop a relationship.
To put that in perspective, can you imagine the NBA demoting the Golden State Warriors this season if they continued to have the league’s worst record?
Some notable players from that league that NBA fans would recognize are the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau, Kristaps Porzingis, and the most recent star to emerge from that prestigious league, the NBA’s 2019 Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic.
They are all solid places to start researching as many current and former overseas players have endorsed them. Let’s get going!
Exposure Camps & Academies
If you play college basketball, chances are that your coach has dealt with professional scouts across many leagues and skill levels. If you are a hard worker and a good kid, your coach will almost certainly make a few phone calls to help you out.
He came off the bench early in his career as a youngster on the team. Gasol’s big break was when Barcelona won the Spanish National Cup in 2001 and Gasol was named the tournament MVP. The rest was history as he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks (traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night) and went on to star on the Grizzlies and Lakers.
At eighteen, he won the MVP of the Euroleague, and his star was on the rise. Doncic made the leap to the NBA after the 2017-18 season and was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks.
I will not go into the reasons for this fact, I will only say that the experience of playing abroad was useful and interesting for me. 
So you need to go abroad only if you are ready to plow in full, to become better, otherwise - if you just want to try your hand - you should not go, in this case you can go to the sea and relax there. If you prove yourself, then you have a chance to gain a foothold in the team. 
This is the age when the player has not yet fully formed in men's basketball. You are no longer a young man, but not a man either, and you are not 100% ready for tough men's basketball, you have no experience in making decisions in key matches. Coaches and club leaders tend to sign those who have such experience, or who have already proven themselves. So it’s difficult to be in the cage at the age of 20, it doesn’t always work out. It is no secret that many young players find it difficult to find a team in which they could prove themselves. Now agents are very helpful in finding the right team. In my youth, there were not so many agents, and they did not help much in this matter: it was just that this profession was not yet so developed. 
Nobody guaranteed me a place there: they just said that they would take me to see it for a few days. At the end of the week's viewing, I could have been contracted until the end of the season with options for extending it. I left Russia in the status of one of the best players in my position at my age, but at the same time I was clearly aware that a place in the new team was not at all guaranteed for me. The main thing is that I had a great desire to work, to improve my skills. So I came to Riga, to the VEF, and literally the next day the representatives of the club informed me that they wanted to sign a contract with me. The review consisted in the fact that they gave me a few exercises to perform, and the second coach looked at my execution technique. The chief appreciated my interactions with future teammates. The joy that the contract was signed lasted one day. Then came, as they say, harsh everyday life. I understood that it was good to get into the team, but now I needed to gain a foothold in it.
Of course, most of the players speak English, but still those legionnaires who come at the beginning of the season are required to study Spanish. The club provides teachers who train the players. I can’t say that this practice is established in every Spanish club, but I think that 80 percent of the legionnaires who played in Spain speak or at least understand the language and partially speak it, they can explain themselves. I came to Spain, to Obradoiro, in the middle of the season, so I didn’t study the language, but the players from Ukraine, Lithuania, Greece, who arrived before the start of the season, spoke Spanish. So, if a player wants to play in Spain, he must at least speak English, because Spanish is taught from English. Knowledge of English will generally make it easier if you want to build a career abroad. Everything here is like in any other profession. By speaking and understanding English, you will understand the coach and be able to communicate with teammates. 
When I arrived in Riga, Max Sheleketo and I lived in a three-room apartment, and Roma Gumenyuk from Ukraine also lived with us. In the second season, I lived alone in the Old Town in an apartment provided by the club. He had to share an apartment with another legionnaire, but he agreed and paid extra from his salary for the opportunity to live alone. The salary was low, but I did not want to share housing with someone. Now I understand that then it would be better to live with a foreigner. But at the time, I was worried that my level of English would not allow me to communicate with an American or a Canadian. Of course, these were youthful complexes. There is no need to be afraid to speak, all legionnaires from far abroad are ready and willing to communicate. Over time, we began to communicate outside the site, but, naturally, living with one of them, I would have learned English faster. So my advice to young players is to communicate, practice the language. In the hostel, people get along with each other.
Although not all and not with all. A player from overseas can constantly talk to his family, located in a different time zone, at 2-3 a.m., which can cause discomfort to a neighbor: it will be difficult to get enough sleep. 
So I didn’t have any special requirements for the apartment. 
Dreams are great, but you have to think realistically. Everyone dreams of playing in the NBA, but is everyone ready to spend a lot of effort to get there? Look at Doncic, for example. He started out as the best of his age, got into the national team early, then almost immediately across the ocean. But there are few such players. 
Such clubs take in high-level legionnaires and do not give many chances to prove themselves to young people. In these clubs, you have to be prepared to work very, very hard and not always get the opportunity to play. It is better, in my opinion, to give preference to teams that do not play at a high level, but give experience to a young basketball player. Your task in this case, I repeat, is to develop new qualities for your future career. Also, don't worry, scouts can now track the games of any team. And when you start playing for the national team at your age, you are seen at various championships. Scouts of the VTB League teams are constantly watching those who play in Europe. By the way, playing in a European club increases a player's chances of being signed by a VTB League club. But you need to be ready at home to start all over again from scratch. 
As a rule, if a player proves himself, then he receives an offer from a stronger championship. Let me tell you about my experience: having played in Latvia, I received offers from Germany, Greece and Russia. In Russia, the formation of teams begins earlier than in these countries: it takes place at least as soon as the season ends. And it so happened that at the time when the Russian club came up with a formalized offer, foreign clubs were still forming an offer, and their desire to see me in their ranks was only in words. My agent and I made a joint decision to give preference to a club from our home country. If the proposals had arrived at the same time, then perhaps after Latvia I would have left for another European championship and continued my career in Europe. So, think about which option is more interesting for you, be guided by your motives and act. 
How can an athlete from Russia get into the NCAA? Answers to parents' questions, part 1 - Sports and study in the USA - Blogs 
And the level of sports, as well as the level of education in our country in recent years, leaves much to be desired. Take any lists of the Top 100 best universities in the world - at least 70% of the list will be American universities, from Russian universities, God forbid, you can see Moscow State University, Baumanka or HSE (and then at the end of the rankings). 
A coach carries far more risks when he takes a person from abroad on video than a player he can see live at an American high school competition. 
Because of this, it will be difficult to get enough playing time, as well as financial support (scholarship) from the educational institution. At school, there will be more game practice, which means that there is a high probability that the athlete will be noticed by coaches from good colleges / universities. In the second part of the article, we will highlight the rest of the nuances and arguments in favor of going to school in America to prepare for entering the university NCAA leagues.________________________________________________________________________________________ 
