This is such a great article and really sums up how I have felt about basketball going on about a decade now.
Your article even touched on my biggest gripe with the NBA there is no consequence for losing.
Ever season the league sees 7-10 teams tank 40% of their games and the valuations go up and the billionaire owners get richer.
It is not a sports league anymore ( and probably never was as it is a league that was not started organically like the NFL or top flight British football but by business men to start a business).
We see teams throw their spot in the playoffs to save draft picks.
We allowed middle managers to run the league and the teams and these middle managers control these teams through accounting to make money for their billionaire owners. Instead of having a league about sport and competition.
Just look at the total opposite of the PL two managers where fired today because their teams have dropped in to a relegation battle. The consequences of losing are immediate and dire and teams are in an arms race to win. Meanwhile the Sacramento Kings are on a 12 game losing streak have won 12 games all year and there are no rumors of any changes with the team except the hope of a high draft pick(people see the losing as a good thing)
And what was the NBA? It’s all a grift. The only true “fans” are those few left who don’t play the prediction markets. Proud to say I haven’t watched a minute of NBA (and won’t be watching the Super Bowl today. Who’s playing?)
This is such a great article and really sums up how I have felt about basketball going on about a decade now.
Your article even touched on my biggest gripe with the NBA there is no consequence for losing.
Ever season the league sees 7-10 teams tank 40% of their games and the valuations go up and the billionaire owners get richer.
It is not a sports league anymore ( and probably never was as it is a league that was not started organically like the NFL or top flight British football but by business men to start a business).
We see teams throw their spot in the playoffs to save draft picks.
We allowed middle managers to run the league and the teams and these middle managers control these teams through accounting to make money for their billionaire owners. Instead of having a league about sport and competition.
Just look at the total opposite of the PL two managers where fired today because their teams have dropped in to a relegation battle. The consequences of losing are immediate and dire and teams are in an arms race to win. Meanwhile the Sacramento Kings are on a 12 game losing streak have won 12 games all year and there are no rumors of any changes with the team except the hope of a high draft pick(people see the losing as a good thing)
That’s exactly right, and what frustrates me the most. There is no consequence for losing. Thanks for reading.
And what was the NBA? It’s all a grift. The only true “fans” are those few left who don’t play the prediction markets. Proud to say I haven’t watched a minute of NBA (and won’t be watching the Super Bowl today. Who’s playing?)