A wise man once told me, “Excuses are like a**holes. Everyone has one, and they all stink!”
If you’ve never played overseas but claim the reason you don’t have a contract is “politics,” you’re lying to yourself. And if you have played overseas and still blame politics for why you’re not getting another job? Chances are, you’re not being honest about your own performance or your off-the-court habits.
Here’s the truth: overseas basketball is never about politics.
Why the “Politics” Excuse Falls Apart
In order for a system to be political, the system has to know you and have a personal vendetta against you. Overseas teams don’t care enough about 99% of players for that to even be possible.
Coaches, GMs, and agents are too focused on keeping their jobs, winning games, and keeping their fans happy. They don’t have time to plot against you.
The reality is simpler and harsher:
- There are too many players. Your chances are slim when you finish college.
- If you did not go to college, or are without an agent, they’re even slimmer. No one is waiting to “discover” you.
- Consistency matters. If you moved schools a lot in college, your stock drops. Teams want to see steady growth, not constant transfers.
- Performance rules everything. If you weren’t even the top guy on your team, why should a professional club invest in you as their import?
- And I am sorry to say this, but if you averaged 8 points per game at an NAIA school, agents and scouts are not going to fighting to sign you (stats do matter).
Stop Blaming Politics. Start Owning Your Career.
For most players, the truth is this: your own decisions dropped your stock.
Maybe you didn’t train hard enough. Maybe you didn’t network or build relationships with agents. Maybe you thought “hooping in open gyms” was enough to earn you a pro contract.
And for those who have played overseas, let’s be real. Nine times out of ten, when a club doesn’t renew your deal, it’s either your on-court production or your off-the-court behavior that made them move on.
It’s not politics. It’s you.
The Hard Reality Check
I hear players complain about overseas basketball all the time, but many of them have never even stepped foot in an overseas locker room. How can you comment on something you’ve never lived? Especially when you talk to me.
If you haven’t put in the work to find an agent, don’t expect contracts to fall into your lap. If you think you’re owed a chance just because you were decent in college or at summer runs, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Overseas basketball is a job. It’s a business. And like any business, the people in it care about results, consistency, and reliability — not your excuses.
The Bottom Line
Blaming politics is a cop-out. It keeps you from facing the reality of why you haven’t made it.
If you’re serious about going overseas, stop hiding behind excuses and start building a plan. Understand what teams actually value, how agents actually work, and what it takes to present yourself as a professional.
That’s where I come in. At SJM Consulting, I´ve helped countless players cut through the noise, stop leaning on excuses, and build a real strategy to go overseas. Simply put, I ain´t gonna bullshit you or let you feel sorry for yourself.
Because overseas basketball isn’t about politics. It’s about performance, preparation, and professionalism.
Let’s Talk…