Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest Facing Obstacles to Playing Overseas

Deron Williams made it seem so easy. When the current Net inked his deal with Besiktas it seemed imminent that others would follow suit. After all, Williams committed to the Turkish club while the NBA Lockout will still in its infancy.

Not long after Kobe Bryant was linked to the same team until talks broke down last week.

Not to be left out of the lockout fad, Ron Artest expressed a desire to play in Europe as well. Naturally Ron Ron had to do it his way so it didn’t come as a total surprise Artest would commit to playing in England with the benefit of landing work in a British soap opera as an extra benefit.

While Artest Tweeted his joy in becoming a Cheshire Jet, Bryant was busy talking to a Chinese club. Until late in the week it seemed like both men were headed out of the States to find a means to playing hoops for a living during the work stoppage.

That was until the Chinese Basketball Association voted to ban players currently under contract with the NBA and insurance concerns put Artest’s European vacation plans on ice.

Both Bryant and Artest will still have their representation seek opportunities elsewhere but perhaps these obstacles are an omen that should be heeded.

How often in life have we made the wrong decision despite all the warning signs being present?

Of course that is easier said than done when you consider just how realistic it is that we won’t see NBA hoops in the coming year. Bryant and Artest won’t be content to just sit back and relax during a lengthy lockout. Taking a year-long break from hoops isn’t a move either of them will endorse – certainly not Bryant and his workaholic tendencies.