LeBron says move overseas possible

LeBron says move overseas possible

U.S. basketball player Lebron James answers questions during a news conference ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 8, 2008

NBA scoring champion LeBron James said on Friday a move overseas at the end of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 was a possibility.

"Growing up you never think about any other league besides the NBA," James a news conference on the opening day of the Beijing Olympics.

"But things are changing really fast and you never know. I can't throw all my eggs in one basket. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for me in 2010 to decide if I want to stay with Cleveland or if I want to go elsewhere.

"Did I ever imagine it? No. Is it a possibility? Yes."

A Sports Illustrated columnist wrote this month that Greek team Olympiakos was considering trying to lure the 6-foot-8

forward to play in Europe.

James, already Cleveland's all-time leading scorer at age 23, was the top draft choice out of high school in 2003. The four-time NBA All-Star is playing in his second Olympic Games for the U.S. team.

A THROWAWAY

He said he was "a throwaway on the 2004 team" in Athens that won the bronze because a lot of guys did not want to play in the Games.

"But I made this year a commitment to be a big part of this and I know I'll be playing a big role for us winning a gold medal," said James. "It's now or never for us."

James said winning the gold after the U.S. team's disappointing performance in 2004 would mean as much to him as winning the NBA title.

"The NBA title is still hot, but they both go hand in hand for me now. An Olympic title is equivalent to an NBA title," he said.

"I have a new love and appreciation for international basketball. Playing for my country means more to me than sitting at home and getting two more months of rest.

"It means more to me than playing for my respective team, because I'm not just playing for Cleveland, or Akron or the state of Ohio. I'm playing for every state in America."

"I didn't know in 2004 what it meant to be an Olympian and wear the red, white and blue."