Mar 10, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Noah Vonleh (32) controls the ball defended by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver (43) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves
(China) – What happens to former NBA players when they move overseas to play in Israel, Europe, or China? It’s fair to assume the standard of living isn’t as high for the various alternate leagues when compared to the National Basketball Association. But other than the prerequisite culture shock, is it really as bad as one could assume?
Well, according to former New York Knick Noah Vonleh, it’s pretty bad with at least one squad in China. Sharing on Instagram, Vonleh blasted the Shanghai Sharks and his time there: “Smh it was a crazy year playing in China! Shanghai Sharks by far worst organization l’ve ever been a part of…Very unprofessional. They still owe me my playoff bonus from 21/22 season. They also still owe me the remaining balance of my salary for the 23/24 season.”
Vonleh also suggested the Sharks showed little regard for his physical well-being following injury.
“I was dealing with an injury during the season and it was taking longer than expected for me return. The Sharks tried to rush me back many times and told team doctors and doctors outside of the team to lie to me and tell me l’m ok to play. I sent my MRI results to doctors in the states and they had different opinions and confirmed I wasn’t ready to return to play. Because the injury was taking too long the Sharks were trying to find ways to terminate my contract on a fully guaranteed deal.”
Vonleh then went on to allege the Sharks wrongfully terminated his contract in February.
“They started off sending out warnings to my Chinese agents saying I wasnt showing up to practice. Chinese agents never responded to any of the warnings when I told them to. After the third warning the Sharks sent the agents a termination notice,” Vonleh alleged, clearly laying out an argument that the Sharks had conspired against him and his representation.
Vonleh says he met with Sharks’ representatives at the league’s All-Star weekend, after his agent requested a meeting to try and patch things up. But they couldn’t agree to their terms. Vonleh claims Sharks’ management wanted to put forth a story of cooperation and good feelings between both sides, which the player wasn’t comfortable with. Vonleh says he quickly realized the Sharks would attempt to withhold pay he was contractually guaranteed to receive.
“I told them many times I want to handle it peacefully and we can go our separate ways but they didn’t want to. I goto a couple games and the fans and everyone is wondering what is going on because they don’t want to release a statement on the situation after the league told them they have no right to do what they are trying to do such as terminating the contract and issuing unnecessary fines.”
In what of the most shocking accusations, Vonleh says he was forced to sleep in the lobby of the team’s hotel after his room was canceled. “I get back to the hotel after attending one of the games. Now the General manager wants to have my room canceled. The general manager tells the hotel to send people to my room to force me out of there. There’s six people coming to my room trying to break in and grab me out the room.”
Sharing an image of a improvised break-in device with a metal shaft and taped handle, Vonleh said his room had been accessed at one point: “They using weapons to try and break in and threatening me saying all kind of things. This what they was using to enter while was sleep. Put this thru the peep hole… snatched it when I heard the noise at the door.”
So, suffice it to say – ex-NBA players may like the paycheck when headed overseas after their prime, but they may not like the experience.
