Comments about ‘NBA players starting a new league? Get serious’

I would like to see them try to create their own league. Their egos would tear the thing apart. It would be a soap opera on steroids.

Still don't care if the season doesn't happen. It would have been a down year for the Jazz, and if they can work out the money issues it will be better for the small teams (like the Jazz).

I am actually in favor of the players trying to do this - not because they would succeed, but because they would learn a ton of things about how the real world operates. What would really be fun is if the owners and office staff were hired as the players in the new league. It might not be inspiring to watch, but it would be fun and they too, might learn a few things about performing under the scrutiny of millions of people every night. Walkin' in another man's shoes might be just the ticket to get both sides off their soap boxes and into real negotiations.

You may want to take business class after writing this article. The idea isn't as far-fetched as you think. Some of these NBA players are also a lot smarter than you think.
LeBron and Kobe make a lot more money off the court than they do on the court as quite a few others do in the league. They'll continue to make money after basketball as well because they hire smart people to take care of their business dealings as guys like Magic, MJ and and Bird before them.
With so many billionaires today who'd love to own a team and money to throw around knowing they can have LBJ, Kobe, D-Wade, KD and other stars to start a league, it's not that crazy of an idea. If the USFL started during an NFL strike and lured all the NFL stars back then, they'd still be in business today.
No one goes to games for the arenas. LA fans would sell out the Pauley Pavilion in a heartbeat for Kobe as any college arena in Miami for LBJ and D-Wade.
Imagine less teams with more stars on them.

Aren't the bulk of arenas local government owned, or highly subsidized by a sponsor, and it's the banks that are financing most teams?

Do you work for the Jazz organization? Say whatever you want. This is a stars league and they make the NBA. The beauty of capitalism is that you can pay for whatever you want without putting a burden on other people. If you don't like the NBA or the players attitude, don't watch the product. Goldman Sachs spends 60% of their profits on their employees and nobody complains about it.

These players are living in a fairy tale. I agree that they obviously can't manage money well, since more than half of them lose all of their money shortly after retirement. This happens despite an AVERAGE salary of 5.85 million dollars. Sorry Amare, your high-school education isn't going to help you succeed in business.

Doug is selling the players way short. What if the blueprint "Bubba Gump" suggests took us back into the playgrounds or YMCA gyms across the country? What if we cut out the ridiculous spectacle and got back to basics, just the love of the game? What if can be played all day, but just imagine what it would be like to see these great players with the undoubtedly huge egos come back to the whole issue that aside from millions, the reason they play is the joy of being great at something. If they came up with a ticket structure that allowed their biggest fans, not wealthiest, to see more of them play in say middle America, could this also be a way to kick start the country? I wouldn't dismiss this too soon. It might not happen as I propose, but I have met too many "dumb" jocks in my life who have ended up having some great ideas. Just some food for thought.

A player run league. That is hilarious. Where would they play and who would pay them. Little or no TV money. Players would get paid maybe double what the D league players get. 70+ percent of these guys are bankrupt less than 5 years after they retire. You think they could actually run a league filled with egos like the NBA has. The players need to pull their heads out and realize that they need the owners much more than the owners need them.
I hope the whole season is lost. It would teach them all a lesson.

It wouldn't be that tough. All they'd have to do is hire some lawyers to negotiate some tv and arena deals for them. Those arenas are just sitting there empty, surely they could lease them. Then they hire some smart marketing and business types, hold a draft, make a schedule and play. Instead of salaries they could just divvy up the take after paying all their expenses. It's a lot of work, but owners don't do it all themselves either. If the players are smart enough to hire competent people they could make it work. They probably would take huge pay cuts though. So what would be the point of sticking it to the owners just so they could make a lot less money?

byutough
you're right most are geniuses. they make money because they were born huge. most never graduated and would be doing menial jobs if it weren't for their phyical attributes. you also need to factor in, who would go to their games. let them strike. college is much more enjoyable.

The only way starting a new league might work is if the players are willing to take huge pay cuts for at least a couple of years and then let the players in the league who have the "smarts" determine how best to implement their plans.

They would also need the help and accumen of business partners with deep pockets. If each player chipped in a $300,000 (or more) investment they would have a decent size money pot to start with.

There are more players with degrees in the league than you might think. I'm also certain there are at least a few with MBAs.

Not quite as crazy as it seems, IF the NBA players can keep their egos out of it. However, that is a big IF.

Zola

Where did you find that Goldman Sachs gives 60% of their profits to employees. Maybe they pay 60% of their revenue to employees. Please give me a source for your statement

Good luck with that! It would be like the Harlem Globetrotters playing Washington Generals day in and day out. LoL...

With the exception of the Portland Trailblazers, who own the Rose Garden, I believe the other arenas are either investment-group or publicly owned, and are under contract with the NBA teams in the market. If I know lawyers, and unfortunately I do, there is a no-compete clause in every contract that says the arena can't bring in another pro B-Ball team to play there while under contract. And the Owner probably pays the arena a percentage of ticket revenue, so the owners are not losing that much having the arena sit empty.

So, the players would have to lease space in College arenas.

I wouldn't watch a league run by the inmates. It'd be laughable. And, playing in what arenas? Colleges? NBA owners won't rent out their arenas to the enemy.

Superstars would congregate in the big market teams, making it even more impossible for the other small market teams to compete, unless they simply decide to not allow small markets to have teams. Bye-bye Utah!

Get a hard salary cap so ALL teams have an equal chance at success. Why can't the players see this? Probably because they make so much money playing that most really don't care if they win a title. It's an easy life for big bucks.

A thought: do the contracts owners have with TV prevent the players from getting their own TV contracts?

What would they call it, "The National Ego Basketball League."

I would suggest to all cities or government entities that own the arenas in which they pay tell this new league that they want 50% of the gross for rental.

I remember going to see the Jazz in their formative years, Pistol Pete was in his last year of playing. It was with appreciation for the play on the court I went, to see the game played at a higher level...the Jazz were not winning, really had no stars, but it was awesome to see the effort and talent they displayed.

Point is, I don't watch to see the "stars" but usually watch in spite of them. And I have quit going to the games because the ticket prices are too high for a good seat. Also because the egos are just too big, and money has ruined the game for me.

Doug you are dead on with this article. The owners are the ones risking their money to finance a dying league, why would they give in to the players, and why should we expect them to?
byutough, you're kidding right? LeBron smart? uh, huh, good one. Find the last complete, proper sentence he's uttered.....exactly, you won't. You could find nearly anyone on the planet and give them $40 million a year and they'd figure out how to hang on to much of it, but outside of the top stars in the league most of these guys do go broke because they aren't smart enough to do much more than play video games, go to practice and games, and hang out at nightclubs with their posse. I for one hope that the owners force the players to give in to their requirements, the owners don't owe these players anything and a bit of humble pie will go a long ways in silencing some of these overpaid clowns.

Doug,

Once again on the money. And for all you folks who think the NBA Players can do it let me ask you this: Why are they not doing this right now? I will tell you why. Because they know it can't be done. Amare is just spouting off steam.

A smarter move would be to join an existing league and power it to new heights. If 250+ NBA players suddenly joined a smattering of North American minor leagues, you would see a lot more attendance and interest from sponsors for these leagues (especially if the NBA cancels the season).

If the stars decided to join such a league, you'd see the lockout end in a hurry, as the NBA hates competition for its players (see ABA in the 1960's-1970's).