New East Asia Super League stealing players from the NBA

According to Marc Stein,

Former NBAers Andrew Nicholson and Myles Powell have signed with the Bay Area Dragons in the new East Asia Super League (@EASLofficial).

The East Asia Super League (EASL), is a basketball league featuring clubs in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Founded in 2016 and inauguraled in 2017, the East Asia Super League was co-founded by Matt Beyer and Henry Kerins as the Asia League as a response to what the founders deem as a lack of high-level international tournaments featuring basketball clubs in the region also taking into account the population in the region, about 2 billion, which could be a potential market for a regional inter-club tournament.


Andrew Nicholson was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft on June 28, 2012. He played with the Orlando Magic for 4 season and with Washington Wizard and Brooklyn Net averaging 6 PTS, 3REB and 0.4 AST a game.

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Powell signed with the New York Knicks on November 29, 2020.

On December 19, 2021, Powell signed a two-way contract with his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Powell, who was a childhood supporter of the Philadelphia 76ers and Allen Iverson, described "having cried for the first 45 minutes" after he realized he would join the Sixers.

The 6'2 point guard only played 11 games in the NBA with the 76ers.