Let’s get one thing straight: not every overseas basketball situation will be a dream come true. Some teams are notorious for their lack of professionalism, and you may find yourself dealing with issues that are completely out of your control. From delayed payments to subpar living conditions, the challenges can be overwhelming. But here’s the harsh truth—you still need to remain professional, even when the team and situation are anything but.
Why Professionalism Matters
First, let me emphasize the importance of maintaining your professionalism, regardless of the circumstances. It’s understandable to feel frustrated, but acting out or letting your emotions dictate your behavior will only damage your reputation. You can’t control if the team pays you late every month, but you can control how you respond to these setbacks. Trust me, your reputation as a professional player is worth more than a moment of anger.
A Real-Life Example: “Onmylastnerve”
Let me share a real-life example from one of my clients, whom I’ll refer to as “Onmylastnerve” for the sake of this story. She’s was in a country known for its tough conditions for American players. While the basketball itself is solid, everything else was a nightmare.
First, the money. Onmylastnerve was never paid on time once. When she did get paid, it was never the full amount. She received the remainder of her first paycheck just days before her second one was due. Her apartment situation? Let’s just say it’s far from ideal. At first, she didn’t even have her own bedroom and was forced to sleep on a couch with zero privacy. To top it all off, her agent and the team were at odds, leaving her stuck in the middle of their conflict.
My Advice to Onmylastnerve: Tough It Out, But Be Smart
You might wonder why I would advise her to stay in such a challenging situation. This advice was specific for her situation. Here’s why:
- Money Issues: As long as she was getting paid, even if it’s late or incomplete, there was not much she can do (at that time) beyond asking her agent to pressure the team. But let’s be real, that doesn’t guarantee timely payments. Knowing that this is the reality, I’ve advised her to budget accordingly. When you know the paychecks will be late, you can prepare and adjust your financial expectations.
- Living Conditions: I suggested she address the apartment issue directly with the team, especially since her agent is in conflict with them. Fortunately, she got her own room. While it’s unfortunate that another player had to move to the couch, as an import player, Onmylastnerve needed to prioritize her own well-being.
- Agent/Team Conflict: The beef between her agent and the team was not her responsibility. Her focus should be on playing basketball and staying out of the drama. Remember, how you perform today directly impacts your next contract. If you let the unprofessionalism of your team affect your play, you’re only hurting yourself.
Why Leaving Isn’t Always the Best Option
Some of you might think it’s wrong to advise her to stay, and I get that. But there are two key reasons why I advised her to stick it out: basketball and the current player market.
- Basketball Opportunities: Her team was winning, she was getting good minutes, and her stats were pretty good. It wouldn’t have made sense for her to leave just because the team is unprofessional. She’s being paid to play basketball, and that part of the equation was still favorable. There are countless players back home who would jump at the chance to be in her position, even with all the headaches that come with it.
- The Current Player Market: Onmylastnerve was a rookie at the time, meaning her resume doesn’t yet support making a drastic move like leaving mid-season. If she would have gone home at that point, finding another job would have been far more difficult than toughing it out where she was. For a rookie, having any professional experience—no matter how challenging—can be invaluable for securing future contracts.
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Your Reputation
If Onmylastnerve had retaliated by being unprofessional herself, she would have suffered more than anyone else involved. She only has one reputation. If she would have gained a reputation for being difficult, it would have followed her throughout her career. And trust me, no one will care to ask why she was labeled difficult.
Now, I’m not saying players should accept every bad situation in the name of professionalism. For instance, once I learned about the true nature of her living situation, I insisted she make changes, despite her initial hesitation. I also advised her on how to approach the team about her payment issues.
When It’s Time to Leave
There may come a time when leaving the team is the best option, and for Onmylastnerve, that time eventually came a few months after her arrival. The unprofessionalism of the team persisted right up to the last minute. I was literally in touch with her until she reached the airport, concerned that some last-minute issue might hinder her departure. Fortunately, she managed to leave without further incident and moved on to another team where she finished the season.
Today, Onmylastnerve is in her third professional season and thriving. Lucky for her (and me), she no longer needs to get on my nerves with constant updates about her challenging situations—though I suspect she might miss doing that! Her experience is a testament to the importance of staying professional, even when everything around you is falling apart.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, please talk to me or someone else knowledgeable about it. Ultimately, you have to decide how much unprofessionalism you can tolerate. But while you’re there, do your job to the best of your ability. Your reputation—and your future contracts—depend on it.