If the NBA doesn't want to pay players what they think they're owed to take the court, Amar'e Stoudemire says the players have a backup plan: Start their own basketball league. Um, wait, what?
Yes, that's right. Speaking at an event for his new Nike signature sneaker in New York City last night, Stoudemire said that some players have already begun tossing around the idea of starting their own basketball league together if the lockout continues for a year or longer. According to him, there are no plans set in stone yet, but with everyone from LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony to Kevin Durant organizing games this summer, players are getting used to the idea that they might have to continue to take the DIY approach if they want to play pro basketball anytime soon.
"Obviously, we're trying to...get this lockout resolved," Stoudemire said. "We want to play NBA basketball. But if it doesn't happen, what are we gonna do? We can't just sit around and not do anything. So we have to figure out ways to now continue to play basketball at a high level against top competition and have fun doing it. So, that's the next step."
And, as far as all of the potential roadblocks that could prevent players from starting their own league? Like, say, finding venues to host games. Or getting insurance companies to cover players. Or, oh, we don't know...PAYING PLAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! Well, Stoudemire says that's obviously something they'll have to talk about.
"It's very, very serious," he said. "It's just a matter of us strategically coming up with a plan, a blueprint, and putting it together. So we'll see how this lockout goes. If it goes one or two years, then we've got to start our own league."
Sounds simple enough! Er, or not...How 'bout you guys just stick to finding a way to end the lockout instead, okay? [via ESPN New York]
