Players_NN2 in_II Europe_NP1 Ponder_VV0 an_AT1 N.B.A._NP1 Pension_NN1 Marcus_NP1 Brown_NP1 had_VHD played_VVN 27_MC games_NN2 over_RG two_MC seasons_NNT2 in_II the_AT N.B.A._NP1 and_CC moved_VVD on_RP to_II European_JJ leagues_NN2 when_RRQ ,_, in_II 2004_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 received_VVD a_AT1 multimillion-dollar_NNU1 contract_NN1 from_II CSKA_NP1 Moscow_NP1 that_CST made_VVD him_PPHO1 one_MC1 of_IO the_AT highest-paid_JJT American_JJ players_NN2 in_II Europe_NP1 ._. 
Now_RT playing_VVG in_II Lithuania_NP1 ,_, Brown_NP1 would_VM like_VVI some_DD form_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 retirement_NN1 plan_NN1 to_TO show_VVI for_IF his_APPGE 13-year_JJ basketball_NN1 career_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 justifies_VVZ that_CST I_PPIS1 worked_VVD hard_RR to_TO get_VVI where_RRQ I_PPIS1 'm_VBM at_II ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
As_CSA basketball_NN1 becomes_VVZ increasingly_RR global_JJ ,_, teams_NN2 throughout_II the_AT world_NN1 are_VBR competing_VVG against_II the_AT N.B.A._NP1 for_IF top_JJ players_NN2 ._. 
Many_DA2 European_JJ teams_NN2 pay_VV0 most_DAT ,_, if_CS not_XX all_DB ,_, of_IO the_AT salaries_NN2 for_IF their_APPGE American_JJ players_NN2 up_RL21 front_RL22 ,_, and_CC often_RR pay_VV0 their_APPGE local_JJ taxes_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB many_DA2 European_JJ teams_NN2 do_VD0 not_XX provide_VVI a_AT1 pension_NN1 ._. 
Brown_NP1 is_VBZ not_XX alone_JJ among_II American_JJ basketball_NN1 players_NN2 abroad_RL with_IW scant_JJ N.B.A._NP1 experience_NN1 who_PNQS realize_VV0 ,_, perhaps_RR too_RG late_RR ,_, the_AT benefits_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 pension_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
"_" There_EX is_VBZ nothing_PN1 like_II what_DDQ the_AT N.B.A._NP1 provides_VVZ to_II whoever_PNQV qualifies_VVZ for_IF the_AT minimum_JJ pension_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Maurizio_NP1 Gherardini_NP1 ,_, assistant_JJ general_JJ manager_NN1 for_IF the_AT Toronto_NP1 Raptors_NP1 and_CC former_DA general_JJ manager_NN1 for_IF the_AT Italian_JJ team_NN1 Treviso_NP1 ._. 
Leagues_NN2 in_II Spain_NP1 ,_, Italy_NP1 and_CC France_NP1 offer_NN1 versions_NN2 of_IO pensions_NN2 to_II their_APPGE players_NN2 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 Nar_NP1 Zanolin_NP1 ,_, the_AT secretary_NN1 general_JJ of_IO European_JJ basketball_NN1 's_GE governing_JJ body_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Zanolin_NP1 noted_VVD that_CST enforcing_VVG a_AT1 standard_JJ pension_NN1 policy_NN1 throughout_II the_AT organization_NN1 's_GE 51_MC member_NN1 countries_NN2 was_VBDZ a_AT1 complicated_JJ endeavor_NN1 ._. 
"_" Every_AT1 country_NN1 runs_VVZ its_APPGE own_DA system_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ its_APPGE own_DA laws_NN2 ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 vary_VV0 from_II progressive_JJ to_II regressive_JJ ,_, "_" Zanolin_NP1 said_VVD in_II a_AT1 telephone_NN1 interview_NN1 from_II his_APPGE office_NN1 in_II Munich_NP1 ._. 
The_AT N.B.A._NP1 's_GE pension_NN1 program_NN1 is_VBZ seen_VVN as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT reliable_JJ in_II professional_JJ sports_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 player_NN1 qualifies_VVZ --_JJ or_CC becomes_VVZ vested_JJ --_NN1 for_IF his_APPGE pension_NN1 after_II three_MC seasons_NNT2 ,_, when_CS he_PPHS1 is_VBZ on_II a_AT1 team_NN1 's_GE active_JJ roster_NN1 for_IF at_RR21 least_RR22 50_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT season_NNT1 's_GE games_NN2 or_CC is_VBZ on_II the_AT roster_NN1 by_II Feb._NPM1 2_MC of_IO that_DD1 season_NNT1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 Tim_NP1 Frank_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 league_NN1 spokesman_NN1 ._. 
Players_NN2 with_IW 11_MC or_CC more_DAR years_NNT2 of_IO service_NN1 retiring_VVG at_II age_NN1 62_MC would_VM receive_VVI the_AT federally_RR mandated_VVN maximum_JJ annual_JJ benefit_NN1 ,_, $195,000_NNU ._. 
Like_II Brown_NP1 ,_, Alex_NP1 Acker_NP1 spent_VVD two_MC seasons_NNT2 in_II the_AT N.B.A._NP1 before_II finding_VVG more_RGR playing_JJ time_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 higher_JJR salary_NN1 in_II Europe_NP1 ._. 
Now_RT living_VVG in_II Milan_NP1 and_CC playing_VVG for_IF Milano_NN1 in_II Italy_NP1 's_GE Lega_NP1 Basket_NN1 Serie_FW A_ZZ1 ,_, Acker_NP1 wants_VVZ to_TO return_VVI to_II the_AT N.B.A._NP1 to_TO qualify_VVI for_IF his_APPGE league_NN1 pension_NN1 ._. 
"_" To_TO play_VVI in_II the_AT league_NN1 for_IF three_MC years_NNT2 and_CC --_NN1 the_AT organization_NN1 will_VM provide_VVI you_PPY with_IW a_AT1 check_NN1 for_IF the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO your_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, "_" Acker_NP1 ,_, 26_MC ,_, said_VVD in_II an_AT1 e-mail_NN1 message_NN1 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 is_VBZ a_AT1 good_JJ plan_NN1 in_II my_APPGE eyes_NN2 ._. "_" 
If_CS Acker_NP1 is_VBZ vested_VVN for_IF the_AT three-year_JJ minimum_NN1 and_CC retires_VVZ at_II 62_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 would_VM receive_VVI an_AT1 annual_JJ benefit_NN1 of_IO $56,988_NNU ._. 
J._NP1 R._NP1 Bremer_NP1 has_VHZ been_VBN playing_VVG in_II Europe_NP1 since_II being_VBG waived_VVN by_II the_AT Charlotte_NP1 Bobcats_NP1 in_II 2005_MC ._. 
He_PPHS1 received_VVD more_DAR than_CSN $1_NNU million_NNO in_II net_JJ salary_NN1 from_II Triumph_NN1 Lyubertsy_NN1 in_II Russia_NP1 in_II 2008_MC ;_; he_PPHS1 would_VM stand_VVI to_TO make_VVI the_AT N.B.A._NP1 minimum_NN1 for_IF two-year_JJ players_NN2 --_JJ $825,497_NNU before_II taxes_NN2 --_NN1 if_CS he_PPHS1 finds_VVZ his_APPGE way_NN1 back_RP into_II the_AT league_NN1 this_DD1 season_NNT1 ._. 
"_" I_MC1 just_JJ need_NN1 a_AT1 year_NNT1 to_TO get_VVI my_APPGE pension_NN1 ,_, but_CCB at_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, I_PPIS1 ca_VM n't_XX pass_VVI up_RP great_JJ money_NN1 here_RL to_TO get_VVI less_DAR money_NN1 later_RRR on_RP down_II the_AT road_NN1 ,_, "_" Bremer_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
In_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 the_AT pension_NN1 ,_, N.B.A._NP1 players_NN2 are_VBR provided_VVN with_IW a_AT1 401(k)_FO program_NN1 ,_, with_IW teams_NN2 matching_VVG player_NN1 contributions_NN2 by_II 140_MC percent_NNU ,_, as_II21 of_II22 the_AT 2000-1_MCMC season_NNT1 ,_, Frank_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Players_NN2 accustomed_VVN to_II the_AT guaranteed_JJ medical_JJ and_CC retirement_NN1 benefits_NN2 of_IO the_AT N.B.A._NP1 often_RR find_VV0 Europe_NP1 to_TO be_VBI lacking_VVG ,_, said_VVD Ketih_NP1 Kreiter_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 agent_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ founder_NN1 and_CC chief_JJ executive_NN1 of_IO Edge_NN1 Sports_NN2 International_JJ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 have_VH0 recommended_VVN to_II kids_NN2 many_DA2 times_NNT2 before_CS they_PPHS2 go_VV0 over_RP ,_, not_XX only_RR do_VD0 you_PPY have_VHI to_TO worry_VVI about_II your_APPGE pension_NN1 ,_, you_PPY have_VH0 to_TO worry_VVI about_II your_APPGE health_NN1 insurance_NN1 ,_, your_APPGE tax_NN1 planning_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Kreiter_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS estimated_VVD that_CST 70_MC percent_NNU of_IO Americans_NN2 playing_VVG abroad_RL were_VBDR not_XX properly_RR filing_VVG their_APPGE taxes_NN2 ._. 
"_" No_PN121 one_PN122 is_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO step_VVI up_RP in_II Europe_NP1 to_TO help_VVI you_PPY ._. "_" 
Gherardini_NN2 said_VVD he_PPHS1 believed_VVD that_CST the_AT absence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 pension_NN1 should_VM not_XX prevent_VVI an_AT1 American_JJ player_NN1 from_II independently_RR planning_VVG his_APPGE retirement_NN1 ._. 
"_" There_EX are_VBR players_NN2 that_CST can_VM end_VVI up_RP playing_VVG 8_MC ,_, 10_MC years_NNT2 in_II Europe_NP1 at_II salaries_NN2 that_CST ,_, at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO the_AT day_NNT1 ,_, if_CS you_PPY 're_VBR smart_JJ saving_NN1 and_CC investing_JJ ,_, you_PPY 're_VBR set_VVN for_IF the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO your_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
Europe_NP1 continues_VVZ to_TO open_VVI its_APPGE borders_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE checkbooks_NN2 --_NN1 to_II N.B.A._NP1 free_JJ agents_NN2 looking_VVG to_TO leave_VVI the_AT league_NN1 for_IF better_JJR pay_NN1 ._. 
In_II 2008_MC ,_, the_AT Greek_JJ club_NN1 Olympiacos_NP2 signed_VVD the_AT former_DA Atlanta_NP1 Hawk_NP1 Josh_NP1 Childress_NP1 to_II a_AT1 $20_NNU million_NNO net_JJ income_NN1 deal_NN1 ,_, and_CC then_RT signed_VVD the_AT former_DA Denver_NP1 Nugget_NP1 Linas_NP2 Kleiza_NP1 to_II a_AT1 two-year_JJ ,_, $12.2_NNU million_NNO contract_NN1 the_AT next_MD summer_NNT1 ._. 
Both_DB2 players_NN2 passed_VVD up_RP lucrative_JJ deals_NN2 with_IW their_APPGE respective_JJ teams_NN2 to_TO play_VVI in_II Europe_NP1 ._. 
For_IF the_AT American_JJ castoffs_NN2 of_IO regular-season_JJ rosters_NN2 who_PNQS seldom_RR receive_VV0 such_DA offers_NN2 ,_, playing_VVG in_II Europe_NP1 is_VBZ still_RR an_AT1 attractive_JJ option_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT eyes_NN2 of_IO Tim_NP1 Bassett_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 retired_JJ N.B.A._NP1 player_NN1 who_PNQS spent_VVD four_MC seasons_NNT2 with_IW the_AT Nets_NN2 and_CC the_AT San_NP1 Antonio_NP1 Spurs_NN2 in_II the_AT 1970s_MC2 and_CC '80s_MC2 ,_, a_AT1 player_NN1 should_VM jump_VVI at_II any_DD opportunity_NN1 to_II vest_NN1 ._. 
"_" If_CS I_PPIS1 'm_VBM this_DD1 guy_NN1 who_PNQS has_VHZ two_MC and_CC a_AT1 half_DB years_NNT2 ,_, or_CC if_CS I_PPIS1 got_VVD two_MC years_NNT2 ,_, I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO get_VVI that_DD1 third_MD year_NNT1 ,_, even_CS21 if_CS22 I_PPIS1 'm_VBM sitting_VVG on_II the_AT bench_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Bassett_NP1 ,_, 58_MC ,_, who_PNQS claimed_VVD his_APPGE pension_NN1 three_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
"_" To_TO have_VHI some_DD money_NN1 come_VV0 in_RP after_II all_DB the_AT years_NNT2 go_VV0 by_RP is_VBZ better_JJR than_CSN to_TO have_VHI none_PN ._. "_" 
Casey_NP1 Jacobsen_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS played_VVD four_MC seasons_NNT2 with_IW the_AT Phoenix_NP1 Suns_NN2 and_CC the_AT Memphis_NP1 Grizzlies_NN2 and_CC is_VBZ now_RT playing_VVG in_II Germany_NP1 ,_, said_VVD he_PPHS1 thought_VVD little_RR about_II his_APPGE pension_NN1 during_II his_APPGE N.B.A._NP1 days_NNT2 ._. 
"_" Now_RT I_PPIS1 'm_VBM really_RR glad_JJ I_PPIS1 have_VH0 it_PPH1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" My_APPGE body_NN1 ca_VM n't_XX do_VDI this_DD1 forever_RT ._. "_" 
