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Should NBA players form their own league?

C

conartist

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I thought this was interesting: https://bit.ly/sQLKzQ

I don't completely agree with everything he says, but I love reading about radical ideas for this stupid lockout. Both sides are completely preoccupied with talking about how to split the revenue and no one is talking about how to increase revenue.
 
Well: Since the players only really want to play in the biggest markets, I guess they could choose to put teams only in those places. Sucks for all of us in the small market cites though.

Seriously though, the players interests are different from those of the owners. If the business model was strong enough to survive, the players would soon be dissatisfied with the new business model as well... or it wouldn't survive.
 
Thanks for sharing your blog with us, Eric. I think this has zero chances of happening, for at least a dozen reasons. Interesting idea, but I don't think star players would want it like that. They could spend years bouncing from Milwaukee to Cleveland to Minnesota, etc. In their wildest dreams, I don't think the players could pull this off, but if they could, I think they'd want what they want now. That is, to be able to choose what city they want to play in, and still get paid.

Nice try, but IMO, that dog won't hunt.
 
mfree said:
Seriously though, the players interests are different from those of the owners. If the business model was strong enough to survive, the players would soon be dissatisfied with the new business model as well... or it wouldn't survive.
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I find that many players and fans have a view of this that would be best described as adolescent. It's hilarious to hear people talk about this as if somewhere, there are men willing to put up 200-300 million for a sports team and not care about the bottom line. Well, there are a few, but I hardly think anyone would want them owning their favourite NBA team.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzan_Kadyrov

Same goes with David Stern. People talk about replacing the commissioner as if the next one appointed by the owners would be a hip black man in his late 20s who'd be buddy-buddy with the players. And the hate on Michael Jordan? I mean, people are actually surprised that he has different priorities as an employer than he had as an employee? Stop the freaking presses. He sold out because 15 years ago, he was on the side of the players? That reminds me of those guys you used to smoke pot behind the gym in high school with, whom you meet a decade later and they think you're a sell out because you have a "real" job and haven't seen a bong in years? "Dude, what happened? Remember how we all said we'd never sell out to the Man? Remember? When we were 16? Remember?"
 
They totally should. They could enjoy the benefits of earning less than they would make in a second rate Euro league for years playing in college arenas. But hey, they would eventually shake the yoke of billionaire owners, big TV deals would come back along with the corporate dollars, and the fans would finally return.

Then they can find out what it's like to have a league exactly the way they want it. And in 15 or 20 years, when their system goes wrong, they'll find themselves locking out greedy players who want 57% BRI and totally unrestricted free agent movement.
 
billyshelby said:
They totally should. They could enjoy the benefits of earning less than they would make in a second rate Euro league for years playing in college arenas. But hey, they would eventually shake the yoke of billionaire owners, big TV deals would come back along with the corporate dollars, and the fans would finally return.

Then they can find out what it's like to have a league exactly the way they want it. And in 15 or 20 years, when their system goes wrong, they'll find themselves locking out greedy players who want 57% BRI and totally unrestricted free agent movement.
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Sums up my thoughts as well.
 
JimLes said:
I find that many players and fans have a view of this that would be best described as adolescent. It's hilarious to hear people talk about this as if somewhere, there are men willing to put up 200-300 million for a sports team and not care about the bottom line. Well, there are a few, but I hardly think anyone would want them owning their favourite NBA team.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzan_Kadyrov

Same goes with David Stern. People talk about replacing the commissioner as if the next one appointed by the owners would be a hip black man in his late 20s who'd be buddy-buddy with the players. And the hate on Michael Jordan? I mean, people are actually surprised that he has different priorities as an employer than he had as an employee? Stop the freaking presses. He sold out because 15 years ago, he was on the side of the players? That reminds me of those guys you used to smoke pot behind the gym in high school with, whom you meet a decade later and they think you're a sell out because you have a "real" job and haven't seen a bong in years? "Dude, what happened? Remember how we all said we'd never sell out to the Man? Remember? When we were 16? Remember?"
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I am so glad that someone said this and said it with some vigor.
 
The only league the current bunch of NBA players could form would be.....the AND1 League....and they already have one of those!
 
I would go down to the Weber State practice gym and throw down a 5 to watch a few NBA hacks dribbling around pretending that they matter. If for no other reason than to laugh at them.
 
I once thought the players would start thier own league, it only takes a few players and a gym right? I failed to realize the marketing abilities of the NBA. And I didn't consider that the NBA creates some sense of credibility to the competion. The recent failures of the players 'charity' games should have shown them how much they need the structure that the league provides.

How many fans showed up for the Jimmer Event at UVU? And they scratched the second game didn't they? And the Jazz players exhibition game at SLCC? I saw the 'highlights' on TV, there were alot of empty seats in a small areana, but the Jazz fans consistantly pack it to standing room only to watch summer league games put on by the real NBA. So if thats what the players want, let 'em high five each other and shout out, "Let's get it on"

FWIW, I would be more much more likely to pay $20 to watch NBA scrubs, scabs and cast-offs play with real coaches, real refs and really trying than I would be likely to pay $10 bucks to watch a game of self proclaimed superstars play an all-star type chuck and dunk fest.
 
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billyshelby said:
They totally should. They could enjoy the benefits of earning less than they would make in a second rate Euro league for years playing in college arenas. But hey, they would eventually shake the yoke of billionaire owners, big TV deals would come back along with the corporate dollars, and the fans would finally return.

Then they can find out what it's like to have a league exactly the way they want it. And in 15 or 20 years, when their system goes wrong, they'll find themselves locking out greedy players who want 57% BRI and totally unrestricted free agent movement.
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Good post. The league will never happen. They'd have to play in second-tier arenas and who do you think is going to have the (basket)balls to piss off the NBA? None of the networks would go near a new league formed by these stars and the super agents. The network would be blackballed by not only the NBA, but every other major sport once biiding negotiations came around again. MLB, the NFL and NBA - those leagues would be compeltely against players forming a new league and the network or anyone else who supported it.

But go ahead, NBA superstars, try it and you'll see it takes a lot more than just the ability to put the ball in the hoop to get a team and league up and running. I'd love to see the fights that begin once Kobe and LeBron demand huge "appearance" fees and the rest of the players are told there's about $1M or so to split between the remaining 18 players for each game.
 
I think it's time to start thinking outside the box. I'd like to see the players start their own league, but instead of basketball, how about MMA. Not the boring one on one matches, but how about 3 on 3 cage matches? I'm not talking about something phony like the old WWE. I'm talking PPV where the winner gets seriously paid, so they'd be highly motivated to really beat the livin' crap out of each other.

Think about the possiblities. Kobe/Fisher/Bynum vs. Lebron/Wade/Bosh. Maybe some Melo/Amare/Billups vs. KG/Pierce/Big Baby. Hell, they could even have 10 man free-for-alls. The entire Laker Team in a cage, everyone for themself, winner takes all. Who wouldn't empty their wallet to see that? The more I think about, the more I think a league like this would really clean up.

Somebody get the players on the phone.
 
freakazoid said:
I think it's time to start thinking outside the box. I'd like to see the players start their own league, but instead of basketball, how about MMA. Not the boring one on one matches, but how about 3 on 3 cage matches? I'm not talking about something phony like the old WWE. I'm talking PPV where the winner gets seriously paid, so they'd be highly motivated to really beat the livin' crap out of each other.

Think about the possiblities. Kobe/Fisher/Bynum vs. Lebron/Wade/Bosh. Maybe some Melo/Amare/Billups vs. KG/Pierce/Big Baby. Hell, they could even have 10 man free-for-alls. The entire Laker Team in a cage, everyone for themself, winner takes all. Who wouldn't empty their wallet to see that? The more I think about, the more I think a league like this would really clean up.

Somebody get the players on the phone.
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An MMA fight with the Lakers and Artest's not on the team. Shame on you.
 
The players should do one of two things. They should form their own league and realize that doing it on their own they can make less than half of what they do under the NBA umbrella. Or they should go overseas and make 1/3 of what they make in the US, play in worse arena's under worse conditions without the pampered travel and hotels. I am guessing they would figure out how dumb it was to say no to the offer that made them millionaires and celebrities.
 
SalmonHobo said:
An MMA fight with the Lakers and Artest's not on the team. Shame on you.
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I was thinking about that, but decided the insanity factor was too much of an advantage. But you're right, he has to be involved in some way. I'm thinking the players could also recruit others from outside basketball. How about Ron Artest vs. the judges from dancing with the stars. Or perhaps Artest vs. 5 drunken Piston fans.
 
I am all for them starting their own league. Then any and all anti-trust litigation is worthless and the owners of the NBA can go out and fix their league without the interference of the moron's that would not take a deal that would have paid them 10X what their new league ever will. Go for it players start your own league. You show those owners whose boss.

The more I think about it the better this idea sounds. Can you imagine the league if every player making over 10Million a year is no longer around? Who would the refs possibly favor when the stars were all gone?
 
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