Far be it for us to be the harbinger of economic doom, but the NBA may be headed for some tough times. In fact, let super-agent David Falk tell it: "I think [fixing the NBA system is] going to be very, very extreme, because I think the times are extreme." Salaries are out of control, teams are losing money and the imminent end of the current collective-bargaining agreement is putting the 2010-11 NBA season in jeopardy. Sorry, but ain't no Krypto-Nate stopping that.
So, what's the solution? The NBA will always have its loyalists, but we have a suggestion that should be familiar to anybody who's suffered through a declining relationship: Distance yourself now before the heartbreak, and start seeing other people. Or, in this case, another league. Yup, the NHL. Yup, ice hockey. Look, we understand that most of you are indifferent about, if not openly hostile to, following the NHL, but the time is right to give the league another chance. Read on for our top 5 reasons why it may be time to jump ship on the NBA...
5. BLOATED SALARIES ARE KILLING THE NBA.
Guess which one of these dudes is worth $13 million per year.
ISSUE: The NBA's soft salary cap = overpaid scrubs, big-market favoritism; the NHL's hard salary cap = proportionate contracts, competitive balance.
• The two athletes pictured above were in the news last Thursday, but for decidedly different reasons: The sports world was still abuzz about the previous night's Alexander Ovechkin wonder goal; on the same day, the NBA trading deadline expired, meaning the usual desperate shuffling of salary-cap-killers like Larry Hughes, who was traded to the Knicks. The point in all this? Ovechkin'the NHL's undisputed best player, who's earned millions of dollars for both his franchise and the league'is in the first year of a contract that pays him $9 million per year. Hughes'a mediocre journeyman and funny-blog-inspirer'is guaranteed roughly $13.2 million for each of the next two years. Hughes is not an aberration, but an example of why the NBA is looking at a no-exception, no-luxury-tax hard cap, which will result in players like him losing money. Armageddon looms.
Click NEXT to see reason #4...
Slim February 25th, 2009 at 02:09 PM
If dude is so nice why isn't he on the cover of the new issue instead of Kobe? Fuck outta here
tim February 25th, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Fantastic article. Couldn't agree more... let's hope more people see this and realize how true this is.
Renan February 25th, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Yes, more sports should have a hard salary cap so that the poor owners get to keep more money while the players (the product) gets less. That's definitely the sign of a superior sport.
Yeah February 25th, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Ovechkin was on the cover of ESPN about 6-7 magazines ago..
DJ SG February 25th, 2009 at 05:43 PM
And you don't think watching Lebron james isn't electrifying?
BOBO February 25th, 2009 at 06:20 PM
NBA blows.Bunch of thugs dancing around on hardwood.
Dr. Destroyer February 25th, 2009 at 08:02 PM
both GAMES are great at their core level. anyone who denies that never played either and doesnt appreciate both sets of athleticism. thats your own problem of bias for some "righteous" perspective. the rael problem with the NBA is that there is no parity and is a waste of time to watch. ive followed the Bucks for a long time (wouldnt miss a game), being the home town team, but have always followed hockey and played hockey at the same time. after a while, its not hard to see why the NBA is complete bogus on so many levels. you could wait 20+ years to see your team in be successful in the playoffs because the economics suck, the politics on the floor sucks (home court "advantage", marketed players getting scam calls constantly, the ref betting scandal which basically negates all credibility from an era, etc.), and the playoff system holds NO surprises. you get about one upset a decade and its looked at like a miracle. sorry, not entertaining. i cant understand why theres a lot people who dont adapt to hockey because its not culturally "popular" among the mainstream, its "expensive" to play (all depends how you prioritize) if you dont live in a cold climate for free pond action and it doesnt have a diverse "racial" set of athletes (which is pretty stupid excuse since most white kids got into basketball in their youth with admiration of the african-american players - not the white players. grow up and appreciate all athletes.). whatever. you can make up a million ignorant excuses on why hockey isnt a more entertaining league right now. just under the NFL for pro sports. it just doesnt have the hype. get on some skates and youll see just how great of a sport it is. guys like snoop dogg and michael bennett (ex-viking) became huge fans fast. ps - watching sports just for "stars" is lame. get over it.
Slim's Enemy February 25th, 2009 at 08:09 PM
"If dude is so nice why isn’t he on the cover of the new issue instead of Kobe? Fuck outta here" First off, those words are English but that sentence is retarded. Second, what new issue? What magazine? Third, who cares about magazines? Especially sports magazines. NBA basketball is terrible. It's all about the numbers and the paychecks for these guys.
Slim February 25th, 2009 at 08:47 PM
The magazine for the site your on genius. Are u serious? LOL!
DP43 February 25th, 2009 at 10:28 PM
To Renan: Yeah, that makes sense. You do realize that most franchises barely break even, let alone turn a profit? There are plenty of NBA franchises losing millions per year because you have some bench warmer making 6 million per.