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You fight and you fight and you fight, just to fulfill the dream of making an NBA roster.

And when you finally get on that roster, you fight some more -- against every new rookie, free agent and little injury -- to keep your spot.

Rule number is one is that once you're in, you never let anyone take your spot. 

So, in that context ... what do you make of Loren Woods?

The center has knocked around the NBA plenty: Minnesota, Miami, Toronto, and Houston. He has played in more than 200 League games, starting nearly a quarter of those. He ended last year as a Rocket, and had a contract to play there this year.

But Woods asked out. He actually asked to be set free of his NBA contract to go and play overseas.

Woods recently signed a deal with Zalgiris Kaunas, and agreed to explain his thought process.

Do I understand correctly that you asked to be let out of an NBA contract to play in Europe? Please tell me the story ...
I asked to be let out of my contract with the Houston Rockets because I felt there would be more of an opportunity for me in Europe.

I appreciate the Rockets working with me to let that happen.

Let me explain: The NBA is obviously the best league in the world and many players would love the opportunity to play there. I have been fortunate enough to play in the NBA (and I look forward to being back in the NBA at some point potentially. I know this may happen, especially because last season I left the Euroleague in mid-season to join the Houston Rockets, just as the team prepared for its final months and playoff opportunity.)

At this point in my career I have to do what is best for me, both financially and where I can make a substantial impact and continue to improve. I know I should be playing a solid, consistent role on a team.

In Houston, I was unlikely to play significant minutes behind Yao. The only way to get more exposure and showcase my talent is if I play, not sit on the the bench and wait for a opportunity that might not come.

Of course, every young American basketball player dreams of nothing other than playing in the NBA. But obviously, as your career has unfolded, you have become cool with the idea of playing somewhere else. What happened?
At some point in your career, I believe in taking matters into your own hands and proving what you can accomplish with an enhanced and consistent playing role in critical games and situations. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA and I have realized that dream.

I never thought I would be playing in Europe but most of this thinking was my ego getting the best of me. Once I went overseas and began to interact with the players, I found they were very talented and skilled. And the same challenges of winning and being an effective player are there.

There is a certain level of mental stability that goes along with being in Europe for most American players. Especially if a player goes to a country where there is a language barrier, not to mention the cultural challenges, it can be difficult. But it can also be rewarding and life-changing.

In addition, usually, day to day is pretty easy because most European organizations make life comfortable by providing living, transportation, and even food in some cases. It allows you to focus on basketball even more that in the NBA, where you have other "real-life" obligations.

You seem to be part of a bigger trend. All these guys who have NBA offers but are going elsewhere ... Josh Childress, Carlos Arroyo, Gordan Giricek ... is this a movement? Does the NBA have real competition?
This year has started something big in Europe because of the large deals Americans have signed. I believe over the next five years the European market will really open up for more Americans at that pay level, especially if the Euro continues to be as strong as it is versus the dollar.

As someone who has played the overwhelming majority of of my first seven years as a professional in the NBA, I can tell you that the level of play and professionalism in Europe is rapidly improving. The game is played a bit differently, but the level of play is not as far off as you might think.

There have been stories about players overseas not getting paid, or being treated badly. Has that been a concern for you?
I haven't worried much about not getting paid or being treated badly because I have faith in my agent, Jason Levien, that only reputable organizations will be presented to me. Having that faith and player-agent relationship has really helped make my decisions easier and more clearly visible. 

You were in the news a little when you refused to travel to a game last season for safety reasons. Can you explain?
When I refused to travel to Serbia for a game, it was for my safety. I had contact with the U.S. State Department, as did Jason, and U.S. citizens were advised not to travel there.

Jason had even put a specific clause in my contract stating that I would not be in breach of my contract if I refused to travel to a place where the US government advised U.S. citizens not to go. As far as I know, I was the ony American player with this protection in his contract. But from a safety standpoint (outside of my contract obligations), I didn't regret my decision at all.

Despite the reprecussions, I believe [we] who decided not to go there did the right thing for ourselves and our families, in spite of the pressure that was placed on us.

I did feel down about not being there for my team, but I knew in my gut it was the proper call. 

What do you think the world of basketball will look like in ten years? Do you think European basketball will be bigger than ever? Will the NBA have teams in Europe?
In ten years, basketball will be bigger than it is now all over the world, for sure.

Playing in both the NBA and Euroleague over the past season, I have witnessed first-hand the development of the game outside the US. As far as the NBA and Europe, both markets are great independently and the competition between them for players is a tool that the players can utilize heading into new collective bargaining agreements, as well as in individual contract negotiations.

As far as NBA expansion, anything is possible, particularly in light of the growing excitment of the game internationally. Im sure that few people thirty years ago thought the NBA or European basketball would reach the heights it has.