As we see each summer, the relevancy of foreign basketball continues to grow exponentially. Rather than wait on getting a chance in the NBA or playing elsewhere, players are leaving home behind to play basketball professionally in a foreign country now more than ever.
We’ve seen a plethora of NBA names make some serious noise overseas and the Chinese League is an attractive destination spot for many. Two more names can be added to that list now as former NBA-players Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas will not only be playing in China next season, but they will be suiting up together for the same team. Following from NBA reporter David Pick:
Source: Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas have left the NBA and are signing as teammates in China with the Shandong Golden Stars.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 8, 2017
Lawson and Motiejunas will play together for the Shandong Golden Stars as Pick specified. Obviously, the NBA is typically the first choice for these players but playing in China has plenty of pros in its own right. While Lawson and Motiejunas both were serviceable role players, Lawson even a star at one point, they have seen their NBA careers largely stagnate.
Without any real interest for either of their services this summer, Lawson and Motiejunas will look to put up big numbers in China in hopes of a potential NBA return one day, something that could certainly still be in the cards for both players.
