Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul would like to play in China. Also, they won?t

Posted on | Saturday, July 30, 2011 | No Comments

Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, conveniently speaking live from China, say that they'd love to play in a Chinese league later this year, should the NBA continue to lock out its players. Which is interesting to think about for as long as it takes you to remember that they're speaking live from China, and that neither player will ever, ever play in China.

Once again, of the 50 or so proclamations you'll hear from American-born NBA players as to how anxious they are to play overseas during the NBA's current lockout -- excluding those that have already signed -- believe in about five of 'em. If that. Not only will NBA players chafe at the lack of creature comforts in international leagues, but international leagues aren't exactly keen to sign NBA players as rentals for half a season. And, especially with the global economy in shambles, this also goes for superstars.

Even Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. Here's the story, from the Associated Press:

Both players are on a promotional tour of China while monitoring news from home about the NBA's labor impasse.

[...]

Asked by SNTV where they would go, Anthony replied "China." Paul said "Same, no question."

The answers may have been designed to compliment their hosts, but Anthony added "it's a lot of history here, the fans are great; why not, why not try it out?"

Probably because you're not going to, Carmelo.

I submit that the Chinese pro leagues, and this isn't a shot, might be more amenable to taking on an NBA player for an indeterminate amount of time. European leagues are wary of trying to break NBA veterans into their style of practice, travel and play; only to have the star jump ship as soon as it becomes clear that the lockout is on its last legs. China is mad about its basketball, and its fans know the game, but its leagues aren't as established and set in their ways as some of the more Western versions. But the money and amenities aren't enough to pull CP3 and Melo over.

On top of that, it doesn't hurt that both Paul and Anthony were in China with the express written consent to sell lots and lots of shoes.

So, "why not?" Because they won't.

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