If the 2011-12 NBA season is delayed—or, worse, cancelled altogether—pro basketball players stand to lose million of dollars. And we've already seen how poorly many pro athletes manage their post-retirement money, so we've gotta believe that there are some players who are gonna go broke if NBA players stop collecting paychecks. In theory, that's one of the things NBA owners are banking on during negotiations. It'll help them get a more favorable CBA.
But, not so fast, fellas. If you think you can just bully the NBA players into submission, you've got another thing coming. According to the NBA players' union executive director Billy Hunter, NBA players won't go broke during the current NBA lockout because several of the highest-paid players in the league like Kobe Bryant are already volunteering to step up and lend money to some of the lower-paid guys if they need the help. Yes, KB24 is preparing to become the most popular loan shark in the country.
"They've been deeply involved in the meetings we've had," Hunter told the Los Angles Times recently. "I know Kobe is intimately involved in interfacing with colleagues and sharing in a pool of revenue to help the others get through this. Kobe has volunteered to do that in the event others needs. He and others are prepared to loan money, if necessary."
Nice gesture, Kobe. But, you're not loaning money at no charge, are you? We find that a little bit hard to believe. It sounds to us like you might've just found the best lockout job of all. Have fun getting even richer! [via Pro Basketball Talk]
