Rasheed Wallace, Other Former NBA Players, Will Play in Summer "Champions League"

Set to debut next year.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Mark L. Baer

Next summer should see the debut of The Champions League, an either great, or terrible, idea that's set to combine the talents of young D-League players and retired has-beens in a brand new basketball association. The league will not be affiliated with the NBA. Instead, Chairman Carl George is looking to capitalize on the top league's brief late-summer/early-fall hiatus.

The league is preparing for 16 teams and "strongly prefers" their players to have experience in the NBA over the past three seasons. For example, New York's supposedly set roster includes: Al Harrington, Maurice Ager and Rasheed Wallace. Reportedly, 60 players have agreed to take part in the league (with other names like: Brandon Roy, Rip Hamilton and Josh Howard being linked to it). Their aim is to employ 250. 

Their 30-game schedule will take place after the NBA Finals, in July and August, with players supposedly being paid "an average" of $200,000.

The first game associated with the Champions League will be a charity contest taking place on January 29 and airing on ESPN3. It's unclear if any future games will be shown on the ESPN family of networks. Also unclear is whether or not this'll be a complete train wreck.

Consider us intrigued though.

[via CBS Sports]

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com

Latest in Sports