The NBA offseason has been surprisingly quiet this year. There have been no uproars or trades that would shock the fans/analysts. At times like these, fans and players turn to other sports to entertain themselves. As it happens, today was a good day to be keeping an eye on other sports. PSG’s Kylian Mbappe was offered a 1-year, $776 Million deal to play for Saudi club Al-Hilal. That kind of money is yet to be seen by any sport, so clearly NBA players had to react to the same. LeBron James put out a tweet, and Draymond Green followed suit, bringing up his $100,000,000 Warriors deal.
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LeBron James, who is about to start the first year of his 2-year, $99,023,288 deal, took to Twitter to joke about moving to Saudi as soon as Rich Paul and Maverick Carter get a call.
Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1 year deal! ✌🏾🤷🏾♂️😁 pic.twitter.com/IX0VSMZYNb
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 25, 2023
Draymond Green jokes about abandoning Warriors’ contract for Saudi money
Saudi Arabia has been making some big moves this past year, offering major contracts to soccer stars. First, they got Cristiano Ronaldo to join Al Nassr with a $215 Million a-year deal. Next, they offered Lionel Messi $1.6 Billion for 3 years. Messi rejected that and joined MLS club Inter Miami. Earlier today, we got to know about Mbappe’s $776 Million a-year offer.
This kind of money is unprecedented in sports, and NBA players wanted to let Saudis know that they’re up for the opportunity as well. Draymond Green joked about the same while talking about his Warriors deal.
“Don’t Think the Ink on My Contract Has Dried Up Yet!”
They got basketball leagues too right? 😱😱🏃🏿🏃🏿💨💨💨💨💨 I don’t the ink on my contract has dried up yet 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) July 25, 2023
Bron and Draymond weren’t the only ones who didn’t hesitate to shoot their shot. A few more NBA players have expressed their Saudi desires. Green’s own teammate, Gary Payton II put out a word asking if Al Hilal needed a defender.
Al Hilal y’all need a defender?!?!
— GPII (@Garydwayne) July 24, 2023
However, no one has been as adamant as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots his Saudi shot yet again
Giannis has been vocal about a move to Saudi ever since he saw the kind of money that was offered to Ronaldo. Earlier today, he tried his luck once again, claiming he looks like Mbappe.
Al Hilal you can take me. I look like Kylian Mbappe 😂😂👀 pic.twitter.com/VH0syez3VX
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 24, 2023
This drew a reaction from the soccer star as well.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/hKhqYXC7tH
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 24, 2023
We don’t know yet whether Mbappe would take the deal or not, but what we can guarantee is that if the bell rings, Giannis won’t hesitate to entertain that Saudi call.