Patrick O'Bryant joins new team in Europe

[tornado]

POB just signed with a new team, Kavala, one of the top teams in the top pro division in Greece.

http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=GRE&Team=8937

POB just got married - to his longtime girlfriend who's been with him since he was at BU -- I hope he sticks a bit longer with this team.

[Da Coach]

Patrick O'Bryant is finished playing with his pro team in Greece and is leaving the country.
He just tweeted that he is "Takin my talents to Puerto Rico now"-

https://twitter.com/#!/13POB13/status/173775893750235136

[Chico]

Think it's time For POB to settle down and find a new career off the basketball court. His "talent" obviously isn't what it needs to be to make it big in pro basketball.

[Da Coach]

He is still making pretty good money playing for pay. Not a bad living!
Are you hiring and paying in six figures?

[Chico]

He is still making pretty good money playing for pay. Not a bad living!
Are you hiring and paying in six figures?

What's that got to do with my opinion? Guess I should have been more specific and said "if he want's to make it big in the NBA.

[bradleybraves1]

What's that got to do with my opinion? Guess I should have been more specific and said "if he want's to make it big in the NBA.

Maybe he's accepted the fact that making it big in the NBA is a long shot. Maybe he just wants to make more money than most BU grads playing a game he loves. Maybe he's saving his money so he can pursue a career he really loves when his playing days are over. I think this plan would put him in a potentially better career position than most Bradley grads. I think O'Bryant absolutely made (and is making) the right choices.

[Chico]

I thought I said make it in the NBA. If that's not his goal, I wish him all the luck.

[Da Coach]

Patrick made well over $7 million for just his 4 seasons in the NBA (see bottom)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/obryapa01.html

Then he signed a 7 figure contract for the Chinese league, though he left China before the season was over. And I think he still made 6 figures from the team in Greece, which isn't a bad deal for less than half a year's work. POB isn't too much different from most colege guys who can make a living playing pro ball. Most will try to continue until it isn't fun any more or until they can't do it any more. He is only 26, and he's a bright guy. I think he'll play a couple more years somewhere, then try to complete his degree.

[Chico]

Patrick made well over $7 million for just his 4 seasons in the NBA (see bottom)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/obryapa01.html

Then he signed a 7 figure contract for the Chinese league, though he left China before the season was over. And I think he still made 6 figures from the team in Greece, which isn't a bad deal for less than half a year's work. POB isn't too much different from most colege guys who can make a living playing pro ball. Most will try to continue until it isn't fun any more or until they can't do it any more. He is only 26, and he's a bright guy. I think he'll play a couple more years somewhere, then try to complete his degree.

Again, I hope POB all the best but I thought I just said if he wants to make it in the NBA. I

[lake Camelot]

I think he is just sampling different cuisines before he opens his restaurant.

[Chico]

I think he is just sampling different cuisines before he opens his restaurant.

Good idea.

[tornado]

Patrick O'Bryant is finished playing with his pro team in Greece and is leaving the country.
He just tweeted that he is "Takin my talents to Puerto Rico now"-
https://twitter.com/#!/13POB13/statu...75893750235136

POB played one final game for his team in Greece, Kavala and led them to a win - with a nice 12 pt, 6 reb performance, with a block & a steal.
Kavala is in 6th place in a 13 team league but only 4 games out of 3rd...
Patrick is among the top 2 or 3 in almost every stat category...
he's Top-10 in the ebtire LEAGUE in rebounds and is #1 in the whole league in blocks


BUT -- here's the really interesting part of this story -- almost every decent player in the entire Greek League has quit their team and is leaving the country...
Five of the league's top 10 scorers are leaving, as are many of the top rebounders and leaders in other categories...

http://www.eurobasket.com/Greece/basketball.asp?NewsID=261871

The basic problem is the Greek economic crisis and the fact that many of the Greek teams are having trouble making payroll and the future looks even worse...
The Greek League playoffs have historically been plagued with low attendances and financial losses not to mention fans rioting -
so the playoffs have been scaled back to just the top two teams so all the other teams' players are packing up and leaving.
As teams elsewhere in the world are looking to bolster their lineups for playoff runs, now appears to be the time for the best players in Greece to get the heck out...

http://www.mlbb.gr/feed-items/greek-cup-final-be-played-again-almost-empty-elliniko