Overseas Red Flags

Know Before You Go

If You Know, You Know

There’s nothing worse than landing in a country you didn’t even know had a league, with only a warning from a friend letting you know, “fans throw shit at you during games”…then the airport loses your luggage, your ride is an old man chain smoking unfiltered cigarettes, and the only people who acknowledge you are soldiers gripping automatic weapons like you are a threat. You finally make it to your “apartment,” and it looks like the spot Prince Akeem moved into in Coming to America. One lightbulb, a mattress that had to be filled with rocks, and a heater that I swear would “cough” in the middle of the night. You sit on the edge of the bed wondering if this is the start of your pro career or the pilot episode of the most depressing documentary ever.

Overseas basketball is filled with dreamers. Unfortunately, the space is also saturated with scammers, broke teams, and owners who think “we’ll pay you later” is a negotiation strategy.

Here’s how to spot the red flags before you pack your bags.

Red Flag #1: “We Don’t Do Contracts”

Translation: We are absolutely not paying you.

Umm…what?! It’s fucking 2025!! If they can’t get a contract written with all the tools out there, they’re not serious. You’re about to donate your services.

Red Flag #2: “You’ll Stay in a Hotel Until the Apartment Is Ready”

Translation: Get comfortable.

How long is “until”? Because that turns into the entire season real fast. They’ll say they’re renovating it. In reality, they’re waiting for another American to quit so you can take his place. Or for you to quit, so the guy you heard speaking English through the walls, can take your place.

Red Flag #3: No Preseason Flights Paid

Translation: This will be the worst vacation you have ever paid for!

If they ask you to pay for your flight with the promise of reimbursement…incorrect. That’s not reimbursement, that’s a fantasy.

A real team puts skin in the game before you even step on the court. If they won’t invest in your arrival, don’t be shocked when they forget to invest in your departure...like when your return flight home is non existent.

Red Flag #4: “We’re Just Waiting for the Sponsor Money to Hit”

Translation: That money’s not hitting. Like ever.

If they’re already leaning on you with the “delayed payments” excuse before you arrive, imagine what it’s going to look like in January when the team is 3-12.

Red Flag #5: “We Had a Guy from the States Last Year…It Didn’t Work Out”

Translation: We can’t afford Americans.

Ask why. Dig deeper. Because “it didn’t work out” usually means they bounced because they couldn’t pay them, or the owner embezzled all the money. Either way, you’re next.

Red Flag #6: “We Love You, But We Have to See You First Before We Sign You”

Translation: You have two weeks to prove you are comparable to Michael Jordan, or you are gone.

That’s a tryout, not a contract. Tryout periods are pretty common overseas, but they also say a lot about the team. It usually means they don’t have enough real data on you…or their scouts are trash. If they need to “see you in person” before signing, it’s either a lazy front office or a red flag that they don’t trust their own process.

Red Flag #7: “You can play multiple positions, right?”

Translation: They have no idea what your actual role is.

You’re not walking into a defined system, you’re walking into chaos. When teams say this, it usually means they want you to do everything. Score, rebound, run the offense, lock up the other team’s best player, coach the youth team, mop the floor and most importantly…never lose. You’ll be expected to average a triple-double and somehow still take the blame when things go sideways.

Quick Checklist Before Signing

Is the contract signed by the team?
Are flight, housing, and car clearly listed and covered?
Is your payment schedule monthly or bi-weekly? Is there a penalty if they miss a date?
Do they have an import history? Who? Ask them.
Did someone you trust vouch for the coach or team?

Player Story of the Week

“They said I’d have my own apartment. When I got there, I was sharing a two-bedroom with three other players. One guy was sleeping on a couch. No one mentioned that part before I landed.”

American forward, currently in the Baltics

Final Word: You Are the Business

They need you. Not the other way around.

You bring the buckets, the leadership, the fans. Don’t let desperation or bad advice send you into a situation that kills your love for the game. You can’t hoop your way out of a broken team.

You can only protect yourself ahead of time.

Until next time imports, Cheers!