Warriors' 23-year old guard turns down NBA contract offer to play in Dubai

The Golden State Warriors still had a pending contract offer on the table this week.

Taran Armstrong, the Australian point guard, had been issued a two-way qualifying offer, and it was still pending acceptance, according to Hoops Rumors.

Armstrong has chosen not to accept that deal. 

Instead, he has signed a two-year contract with Dubai Basketball, according to ESPN's Olgun Uluc.

Armstrong signed his initial two-way contract with the Warriors in February. After that, he played in 11 games at the G League level for the Santa Cruz Warriors, putting up 11.5 points, 8.2 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

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He didn't get into any games for the NBA Warriors last season.

Armstrong then suited up in Summer League for the Warriors, too, but he evidently felt that sticking around wasn't his best option.

The Dubai Basketball team that Armstrong has signed with is currently competing in the EuroLeague, the highest level of basketball outside of the NBA.

Armstrong is definitely capable of shining outside the NBA. When he played in the NBL in Australia, he averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game for the Cairns Taipans.

He joins a Dubai team that is loaded with former NBA players, including Davis Bertans, Dwayne Bacon and Justin Anderson.

Armstrong does reportedly have an opt-out after one season of his Dubai contract, so if he attracts NBA attention, he could be back sooner rather than later.

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