Buļs Sceptical of Žagars and Šmits Playing in China, Warns of Consequences for National Team
Basketball players Artūrs Žagars and Rolands Šmits are continuing their careers in China this season. Edgars Buļs, president of the club Rīgas Zeļļi, says this is no cause for celebration for Latvian basketball.
Latvian basketball players Artūrs Žagars and Rolands Šmits have chosen to play in the Chinese league this season. Edgars Buļs, president of the basketball club Rīgas Zeļļi, voiced scepticism about these decisions on the programme "D sektors" and warned of possible consequences for the Latvian national team.
Why the players went to China
Both players were offered a higher salary, significant roles and the chance to become team leaders. Even so, Buļs does not see the moves as a reason to celebrate for Latvian basketball. In his view, both players would have gained more by staying in Europe's strongest leagues.
Different assessments of the two
Buļs can still understand Šmits's choice. The 31-year-old has played eight seasons in the EuroLeague, Europe's top club competition, so a financially attractive offer at this stage of his career is logical, he says.
With the 26-year-old Žagars, Buļs has more questions. He asks whether a million-level offer in China was tempting enough to give up the chance to prove himself in European basketball once again. He also questions whether impressive statistics in Asia truly mean sporting progress.
On the programme, Buļs explained why he is sceptical about what the Chinese league contributes to players' development and spoke about possible consequences for the national team.
