Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki offered
$1.5 million per month by a Chinese team: NBA Report
Chinese Basketball Association team Zhejiang Lions is pretty active these days, especially when it comes to dragging the National Basketball Association players to China. Their latest venture in this regard is the $1.5 million
per month offer that they made to the 2011 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), Dirk Nowitzki.
This is the highest offer so far made to an NBA player. Prior to this the Turkish sports club Besiktas were looking to sign Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant for somewhere between $1 million to $1.5 million per month salary.
In addition to that, there were also strong rumours that Miami Heat’s super star Dwyane Wade got a $2 million offer from a Chinese team. However those reports turned out to be untrue when the All-Star himself told that currently
he is not in talks with any international team.
Just like other NBA players, Dallas Mavericks star was also weighing his options to play abroad during the lockout. However, it is expected that if at all he plays overseas, he might play in his homeland Germany. However, now with
the Chinese team landing him such a huge offer, the Big Dirk might have to reconsider.
Nowitzki is amongst the players, who will look to play abroad only if the lockout scrapes the entire next season. Therefore, this offer makes more sense for the German national, as the season in the Chinese league starts from December.
Thus it will provide sufficient time to NBA players, so they can evaluate the lockout scenario.
On the other end of the spectrum, after the NBA Finals it has become evident that Nowitzki has that heart to turn down such an offer. The veteran was showered with numerous endorsements after guiding the Mavs to the 2011 championship.
However, Nowitzki despite being the most marketable player turned down the offers.
In addition to his endorsements there are still three years left in his pact with the Mavs that will earn him $53.7 million. According to reports, the Chinese Basketball Association is against roping in players who demand for an
out clause. This might become an issue as Nowitzki has reiterated his desire to win it all again with the Mavs.
For the time being, Nowitzki will look to help German national squad in the upcoming Euro-basket contest in order to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. The tournament will begin from August 31, 2011.
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