LeBron overseas? Could NBA stars really defect to Europe?

Former Stanford star and Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Josh Childress apparently had enough of the NBA, signing a three-year contract with the Greek team Olympiocos. Former Orlando Magic guard Carlos Arroyo shared that same European desire, bolting for Israel to play with Maccabi Tel-Aviv. And let's not forget Earl Boykins, who has just signed with Virtus Bologna of Italy. What once seemed like a laughable concept has now transformed into a frighteningly real problem for the NBA. In addition to Childress and Arroyo, Primoz Brezec, Nenad Krstic, Juan Carlos Navarro, Jorge Garabajosa, Carlos Delfino, and Bostjan Nachbar have all decided to leave America and return to Europe. Granted, no major stars have followed this growing trend as of yet, but one superstar says he's open to the idea of playing overseas.

LeBron James is, for my money, the greatest player in the game. So big people call him King, LeBron is far and away the face of Cleveland sports, and arguably the face of the NBA. But as LeBron prepares for the Beijing Olympics with Team USA, it seems that he too has been diagnosed with international fever. According to a source close to James and reported via Chris Broussard of ESPN the Magazine, LeBron would be willing to take his show overseas if payed a salary of "around $50 million a year". The sound you just heard was David Stern fainting.

When one of the game's brightest and most profitable talents is considering changing continents, as much as no one wants to admit it, you know the league could be in trouble. Even before LeBron made these comments, there was concern. If Europe manages to lure King James away from the land of the free and the home of the brave, that would trigger panic and chaos. Who knows, if LeBron goes, will Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Monta Ellis, Deron Williams, Tracy McGrady, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett, and Chauncey Billups follow in his footsteps?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The National Basketball Association has never been better. However, despite the valiant efforts of commissioner David Stern, no matter the fact that the league is going strong, trouble seems to continually plague David Stern's product. What a shame. Let's hope Team USA wins the gold in China; perhaps a gold medal for the United States of America will make LeBron realize that America features the finest competition in the world. It is not as if LeBron James is expected to leave the NBA anytime soon, and it's probable that he will always call the NBA home. Yet just by simply making suggestive comments, as innocent as they may be, LeBron has shined a light on a serious and potentially destructive issue in the world of American professional basketball.