NBA
Part 2: Players Leaving the NBA for Overseas
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Earlier in the summer, we brought you a rundown of players leaving the NBA for overseas leagues next season. Since then, more individuals have inked deals to go abroad. Check out this updated list of players you can catch on international teams instead of in the NBA when training camp opens.
Zoran Dragic: While his brother Goran inked a mega deal to remain with the Miami HEAT, Zoran is leaving the NBA for now. Dragic was traded from the HEAT to the Boston Celtics this offseason and then waived shortly after. He signed a two-year deal with Khimki Moscow in Russia.
Jeffery Taylor: Following three years with the Charlotte Hornets, Taylor will be playing for Real Madrid in Spain. Taylor already has international experience. Born in Sweden, he competed in the 2013 Eurobasket.
Shavlik Randolph: The NBA veteran has spent time playing in China and will return once again. Last season, he played for the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. Randolph inked a multi-year deal with Liaoning.
Jordan Hamilton: Drafted in the first round in 2011, Hamilton has been a member of the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and, most recently, the Los Angeles Clippers. Hamilton signed with Krasny Oktyabr in Russia.
Joey Dorsey: After three years in Europe, where he won a Euroleague championship, Dorsey made a comeback last season with the Houston Rockets. This summer he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, who waived him. Even though he previously expressed his desire to play in the NBA, Dorsey inked a deal with Galatasaray in Turkey.
Gal Mekel: Mekel’s basketball career spans the globe, playing in Europe and the NBA. Last season he played internationally as well as four games for the New Orleans Pelicans. This summer, he agreed to join the Crvena Zvezda Telekom in Belgrade.
Victor Claver: When the Denver Nuggets waived Claver during last season, he returned overseas to play in Russia. This season, he will continue playing internationally, signing with Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia). The Spanish big man previously discussed the challenges of transitioning from Europe to the NBA with Basketball Insiders.
Will Cherry: Following a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Summer League with the San Antonio Spurs, Cherry will play for ALBA Berlin in Germany. He has international experience, having been a member of Zalgiris Kaunas last year.
Tyrus Thomas: Thomas suited up in the D-League last year and got a brief call-up from the Memphis Grizzlies. He had received interest from a number of NBA teams this summer, as he told Basketball Insiders, but he ultimately decided to take a larger contract with Eisbaeren Bremerhaven in Germany.
There are also players leaving the D-League for Europe, including: Alex Kirk (Giorgio Tesi Pistoia in Italy from Canton Charge), Justin Jackson (Nilan Bisons in Finland from Texas Legends), Stephen Holt (Melbourne United in Australia from Canton Charge), Taylor Griffin (Pallacanestro Trapani in Italy from Santa Cruz Warriors) and Roscoe Smith (Ironi Nes-Ziona in Israel from Los Angeles D-Fenders).
