Report: NBA stars planning global tour

Players have organized a number of exhibitions this summer but none as large as this. (US PRESSWIRE)

By Nicki Jhabvala, SI.com

Many of the NBA’s top names are finalizing deals for a 10-day global tour, marking the biggest event players have participated in since the lockout began on July 1.

As first reported by ESPN.com, the tour is scheduled to run over two weeks and will include six games in three continents. It will kick off Oct. 30 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and stop in London, Macau, China and Australia.

According to ESPN, among the players expected to participate are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Paul Pierce and Kevin Love. Thunder forward Kevin Durant and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett are also considering joining. The one star who won’t be joining, however, is Dwight Howard, who reportedly turned down the offer to rest after his recent a 15-country tour.

Calvin Darden, an Atlanta business mogul and former Wall Street stockbroker, has been working with the players and their agents in organizing the tour over the last few months and has already secured contracts from six guys, including Kobe and Wade. ESPN.com reported that Darden is hoping to get the rest of the signed contracts soon and to arrange broadcasts of the games in the United States and as many international markets as possible.

The players will be paid for the games, and salaries could range from six figures to $1 million, according to ESPN.com. Some of the money will be donated to charity.

UPDATE: ESPN.com’s Ric Bucher reported on Sunday that details for the exhibition were not finalized but 14 of the 18 players approached have signed contracts for the tour. All 18 are expected to be signed.