For some, playing overseas is better than playing in the NBA.

So much attention is paid to the NBA draft – who was picked in what round and how much money they are guaranteed for the first two years of their contracts. Others not drafted can sign with teams as free agents and stick around long enough to win an NBA ring, like James Michael McAdoo, who won two with the Golden State Warriors before washing out of the league.

The third option for former college players who go undrafted and can’t make the NBA as free agents is leaving the country and, getting paid in various denominations. UNC has been sending players to Europe and Asia for decades, the list is long, most of them now making six figures and often getting housing as part part of their deals; unlike the grind of preseason training camp and exhibitions, 82 games in the NBA regular season and then maybe the playoffs, they see so much more of the world.

Two of those former Tar Heels are Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard. Both were members of the 2009 national championship team, although Ginyard missed most of that season with a foot injury. At 32, he just signed with a team in France, which will be the eighth country he’s played in over ten seasons abroad. Thompson has seen even more than Ginyard.

The 6-10 big man just finished the 2019 season playing for teams in Spain and Lithuania. He began his pro career in Greece back in 2010 and has since been in Slovenia, Germany, China, Israel, Turkey and Serbia. He’s been a league all-star six times, won a post-season MVP award and played on teams that cut down the nets seven times. His best season was 2013, when he averaged 12 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Ginyard, whose mother lives in Chapel Hill and helps him run summer basketball camps here and in Wilmington, just loves the game. He has played for teams in Germany, Israel, the Ukraine, Greece, Macedonia and four in Poland before signing with his second team in France for the 2019-20 season.

The longest-tenured Tar Heel overseas is Jawad Williams, who started for the 2005 NCAA champs and at 36 is still playing, while he and his wife raise their kids all over the world. Besides nearly two full seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jawad has played for teams in Spain, Israel, France, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Greece, Italy and Japan.

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