For a lot of players who don't retain their roster spot or fail to make an NBA team, the most popular alternative is playing in Europe. The competition on that side of the globe is widely considered as the best outside the NBA, and some teams even have the ability to dole out bigger salaries for players who would've settled for crumbs in the NBA.

After spending the last two years in Russia, newly-signed Utah Jazz center Ekpe Udoh has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to be successful in Europe. He may have had a good run with CSKA Moscow, but he is no longer content just to make it back to the NBA. Udoh is, now more than ever, eager to carve a niche for himself this time around.

According to his former teammate, Aaron Jackson, the 30-year-old Baylor product told him, via Eurohoops.net,  that the NBA is less demanding than the European leagues, and that it's something not a lot of people are aware of.

“I saw him (Ekpe Udoh) in a night club in Miami. And he told me: ‘Bro, I’m doing whatever it takes to not go back to Europe’. He’s got tired of all the practices. It’s so demanding. A lot of people don’t know how demanding it is.'”

It may be a bold claim as the NBA is widely considered the best basketball league in the world, where the most talented players showcase their skills, but it's also difficult to contest as he's had first-hand experience playing in Europe. Now back in the U.S., it may be good news for the Jazz to hear his statement, as it can be expected that Udoh will give it his all night in and night out to remain in the NBA.