Will The San Antonio Spurs ever exist again?
Dr. Big Mac had a nice little word piece about the NBA buy out market being a steamy pile of zero competitive balance doo doo. I totally agree with The Obvious One here. The buy out market has created an un fair advantage for big markets who have championship teams that already have a un fair advantage just simply due to the city they are in and the current NBA player’s mentality. The examples of young NBA players forcing their way out of town for LA or Miami or NYC is too long for me to Google. I’m half a pint away from drunk. Lay off me.
Isn’t that the point though? It’s not about the league or the cities, it’s about the players. The player’s motivations have completely changed. I’m not trying to play “old man get off my lawn” guy here, but I think the league is lacking guys who’s leading motivation is competitive drive. Even if you have someone like a Trae Young or Luka who want to win, how long is it before the team fails to get enough stars around them because Atlanta and Dallas are at best 2nd class destinations? (not discounting the chicky wings, Lou) So, now Luka is 31, gave his career to the Mavs, but is forced to join some team of studs in L.A. to get the ring. Or you show up to camp carrying 25 extra pounds of grease and titty glitter, refuse $50 million dollars, take your ball and go home. Or Brookly. Where ever KD is angeling to be the 3rd option. It’s a story told all too often.
I know the game allows for this. It’s easily manipulated by individual play. And I know the league has been dominated by talent rich teams for decades, but that era of the NBA at least was team building from the franchise. This era is full of millionaire buddies deciding to team up for championships as long as there’s a beach near by and it doesn’t dip below 69 (nice) all year.
I don’t know what the solution is. Wait for Lebron to die? Good chance he never retires. Especially with the new rumors he is recruiting Steph. I mean the Warriors would have been a good chip in the armor of this conversation, but they went and brought in the 2nd best player in the league after having the most wins in NBA history. It’s a joke. And anyone who defends KD’s decision to go to Golden State is off the Christmas card list. Only to be followed up with the Kyrie Deep Throat Hall Way meeting at the All-Star Game. That move is the microcosm of the Lebron era NBA.
So, I guess we sit back and pray that either the league figures it out or we get inundated with a core of guys like Dame Lillard. The respect I have for that guy is gone from cocky loud mouth to bad muther fucker. Mamba mentality. Step on your throat while you’re choking, Jordan mentality. Imagine Mike looking at Utah as threat in ‘98 and pariahing John Stockton instead of stabbing the proverbial knife in his heart via a 17 foot jump shot?
I just fear we will never see the likes of Timmy, Pop, and the Spurs again. A roster of basketball players spinning the ball around the court, winning ‘chips, not looking for their next Lays Potato chip deal on South Beach. Instead we’ll have top heavy teams of Hall of Famers backed up by All-Stars on minimum deals chasing rings after their tanning session and head shots.
