The American basketball star became a millionaire by playing in a Russian club sponsored by a thief in law

American basketball star Sue Bird spent 11 years playing professionally in Russia at a club whose owner was once convicted of spying for the KGB. Insider.

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Byrd told 60 Minutes that despite being the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, she was making less than $60 a year early in her career. Although she now only plays in the US, she has spent most of her career playing overseas to supplement her income, like many WNBA players.

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Byrd said that after two seasons of playing in Europe, Russian billionaire Shabtai Kalmanovich recruited her to Euroleague Spartak Moscow.

“He said, ‘You know, I have a lot of money. And, you know, some people love to gamble. Some people love to buy cars. I love spending my money on women's basketball,” the athlete said of her recruitment.

Kalmanovich paid Bird 10 times what she earned in the WNBA. When asked if the money changed her life, Byrd said yes.

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“Absolutely,” she said. “I became a millionaire because of it.”

Kalmanovich spoiled his players, and the payments were not limited to wages.

“Everything was literally first class,” Byrd said. We have stayed in the best hotels. We lived in the best hotel in Paris."

Diana Taurasi, her teammate, said they were also given a "mini mansion" with a pool and spa. According to them, Kalmanovich even gave American players his credit card to go shopping, telling the women to "buy whatever you want."

“I was like, ‘Should I buy this $3000 Louis Vuitton bag that I would never buy? Yes, I will buy and I will buy two - one for me and one for Jessica Taurasi," she said, referring to her sister.

Taurasi continued, “We get in the car and we have something like 25, 30 bags. I feel like we robbed a bank."

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CBS described Kalmanovich as "a former KGB spy and businessman with a background in outlawry". November 2, 2009 was killed in the center of Moscow.

Kalmanovich spent five years in an Israeli prison on charges of espionage. After his release, he made a fortune trading African diamonds.

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