Gransberry to play pro ball in France
Former USF center Kentrell Gransberry has rebounded from a "disappointing" week in the NBA's summer league in Las Vegas and will begin his professional career overseas in France.
Gransberry, the Big East's leading rebounder for the last two seasons, has signed on to play this season with STB Le Havre (the STB is Saint Thomas Basket), a team in the Pro A division of France's Ligue Nationale de Basket -- I'll let you guys translate that one. Gransberry said he had other options overseas, but STB Le Havre was his best option.
"They had the best offer, with a chance to start and get a lot of exposure," said Gransberry, who reports to France on Aug. 17 for what will be his first trip to Europe.
The LNB has a few familiar names for American college basketball fans -- USF fans certainly remember former Virginia Tech guard Zabian Dowdell and Villanova's Curtis Sumpter, who are on other rosters in the league. Former USC star Jeff Trepagnier also plays in the LNB. Here's the league's official site, as well as the site for Le Havre.
Gransberry had a frustrating stint in Las Vegas, playing only two minutes in his first two games with the Detroit Pistons' summer team and then watching the remaining three from the bench.
"I wasn't able to get a chance," he said. "They have to play their returning players and draft picks, but other teams had more minutes for overseas players and undrafted rookies. I think I speak for others in Las Vegas when I say "If you're not going to play us, why invite us?"
Gransberry, a Baton Rouge native, has grown up with a little French around him, but he said he'll have to pick up a CD to learn some basic phrases before he heads to Le Havre. According to my sister Kristin, official consultant to the blog for all things French, that's pronounced "luh ahvruh," but barely say the last part. We're all about expanding the minds of our readers here.
We'll check back with updates on his rookie season there, as well as other former Bulls playing overseas ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Good luck to him. I hope to see him in the USA somtime soon.
Greg - is playing in Europe like playing AA or AAA in baseball? What I mean is, will Gransberry get a decent shot at playing in the NBA? Have there ever been players to go to Europe and come back to the States for a successful career?
Thanks again, broham.
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | July 20, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Chucky Atkins!!!
Posted by: Jay Paules | July 20, 2008 at 08:57 PM
EU is a better place to have roots these days anyway, no?
Posted by: cg | July 20, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Bonjourrrrrr ya cheese-eating surrender monkey!
He'll make more money in spending power terms, and if they make the Champions League (I forget the name, but it's similar to the soccer tournament), then the competition is pretty high.
Posted by: Dave W | July 20, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Ligue Nationale de Basket: I hope the author was being facetious when saying "I'll let you guys translate that". The translation couldn't be more obvious. If you don't know what that means in English, ring the bell and Tommy will come over and hit you with a tack hammer because you are a retard.
Posted by: | July 21, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Yes, 10:23, that was meant to be facetious. Yes, the translation couldn't be more obvious. And just to cover the next question, France is a country in Europe. Sorry not to spell that one out, too.
Posted by: G.A. | July 21, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I agree,
Why invite the guy if you aren't going to play him.
Thats more the agents faul then Grans.
Posted by: Ari Hinkelberger | July 21, 2008 at 01:57 PM
I don't think 10:23 could find Iraq on a map.
Posted by: Reality | July 21, 2008 at 09:26 PM