One thing still gets to Travis Hansen in foreign locker rooms.

While American professional sports have been known to appreciate a culture of destroying the liver, by the bottle, top-level European athletes are prone to light up the lungs.

Otherwise, the former BYU basketball star isn't about to get smoked out of his idyllic life. Yes, he used to consider returning to the NBA.

But the four years away in Spain and Russia have been too good, professionally and financially, to consider coming back.

"I mean, this isn't like 10 years ago. Europe is huge right now," the 30-year-old said. "You can make serious money over there. Guys aren't leaving Europe to come to the NBA ... they're staying more often because they can get paid."

Hansen's career is rewarding more than his bank account.

His wife, LaRee, has helped to set up Little Heroes Foundation (littleheroesfoundation.org) that, with the cooperation of Utah-based company Nature's Sunshine, is helping make life better for Russian orphans.

In Lehi last week, Hansen ran his second annual hoops camp for a fundraiser.

Could he have had the time or inclination to do such a thing if he still played in the NBA?

It seems like a long time ago when Hansen was the 37th pick. Going early in the second round, life looked good in the summer of 2003. The dream of playing at the sport's highest level was fulfilled.

Only one problem: Atlanta picked him.

Hansen acknowledges he might still be in the NBA if he hadn't been selected by such a tumultuous, fractured franchise.

But he played a lot in his last month of a lousy season and cashed in on his NBA pedigree with a two-year run in Spain.

BYU head coach Dave Rose, who's known Hansen for about 15 years, recalls vividly the long talks they'd have about what to do after the first NBA season.

Try to stick it out in what's perceived as the sport's highest level, or seek fortune and happiness (playing time) elsewhere the game is played?

It's a common question for basketball players, as the game has grown so lucrative worldwide. The question becomes more perplex as the game gets better around the planet, and the American dollar is continually devalued.

The Utah Jazz recently drafted Kosta Koufos, who is American but comes from Greek heritage. He's reportedly turned down much bigger offers overseas than what his first-round, guaranteed NBA contract will pay.

Rose knew Europe could be a great thing. He had a bunch of former college teammates take that route. The schedule's good, travel is better and money can be downright great if you can get with a good team and level, and perform well.

Hansen's cherished all of the above. He went to Dynamo Moscow in Russia and has just finished up his second season. He's gone from "see what it's like" in Spain to "not going anywhere soon" in Moscow. He has become even more loyal as the team supported him last year through an Achilles heel tear.

His philanthropic presence, coupled with basketball background, convinced Russian government to grant him a passport. Now nationalized, he may compete for its Olympic team this summer alongside Utah's Andrei Kirilenko.

There is one holdup, however, and it's a big one. Only one nationalized player can be on the team and the Russians need a point guard. That gives the upper hand to J.R. Holden, though the long shot exists both Americans could be a part. That's if Holden is granted citizenship for all of his time spent playing professionally.

There's been some debate among Cougar fans on the Internet, including the Daily Herald's cougarblue.com, whether Hansen should consider playing for another country.

One guy's view: The Cold War's over. Be happy Hansen might play.

"America would be my first choice, but they haven't asked," Hansen quipped. "But to play in the Olympics would be a great experience."

Life's been full of them. He loves the Russian culture but also gets the benefit of living in an English-speaking community near the Kremlin. His place, occupied also by his wife and two young children, oversees a park. Relatives visit often and fly from here to there first-class. Christmas has been spent on that side of the globe the past four years.

Hansen admits it wasn't always an easy choice. Especially in Spain, he'd keep an eye on the NBA and wonder what he was missing.

Turns out not much. He's glad he played there, but happy to move on. He doesn't appear to be a guy who misses all of the NBA's flaws.

BYU fans can search Youtube and find an amusing 10-second clip of him dancing after a win in Spain.

"It's a party over there," he said.

He loves that the game is like a top-level American college atmosphere, where every possession matters. The NBA playoffs are a wholly different animal, he concedes, but the regular season is a much bigger deal in Europe.

"If you were to see Panathinaikos play at home in Greece in front of 22,000 people who are throwing batteries and water bottles, flares and fireworks," Hansen said, "that's the best environment in the world."

• Jason Franchuk can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it