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Headline International Basketball NBA Players

Cross China Off Carmelo’s And CP3’s List

The news that the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) will prevent NBA players current under contract from playing in its league was not talked about much in sports business circles; however, it has a great impact on top tier NBA players and their agents.  Before the CBA locked these NBA players out of its league, superstars including Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony had stated that they would consider playing in China.  With the opportunity to make $60,000 per month (and possibly more if limits had been waived as rumored), it seemed like a good option for talented players who were locked out in the United States – especially because many teams supposedly did not adhere to the spending limits put in place by the league.  Anyway, hat option no longer exists.

Players with NBA experience who are currently free agents will be allowed to sign with CBA teams, though.  These players will not be able to negotiate any opt-out clause into their CBA contracts.  Such a clause would allow players to return to the United States and play in the NBA, should the NBA lockout end and a 2011/12 season commence.

In the past, the CBA’s 17 teams have been able to sign up to 2 players who do not have Chinese passports.  The exception to that rule applied to the 4 teams who fared worst the prior season.  Those teams could sign 3 foreign players, with the caveat that 1 of those players had to be Asian.  Now add on the additional restriction – no NBA players currently under contract allowed.  Case closed.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.