Don't Hate The Player Cont.
Don't Hate The Players cont.

Various basketball purists are disgusted by James' bouncing around from city to city, Cleveland, Miami, back to Cleveland and now Los Angeles.  

Not many recognize that Lebron James spent 11 of his 16 years in the NBA playing in Cleveland and delivered a championship.
 After returning to Cleveland is when James began asking for a shorter term contract, becoming one of the first to literally take control of his own future.  
Shortly thereafter, a number of players began to follow suit, including Kawhi Leonard, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after winning a title during a one year rental with Toronto. 

Here are a few other examples:
Lebron James signs with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are eventually able to obtain Anthony Davis from the Pelicans in a trade, after he declared having no interest in re-signing with New Orleans at the end of his contract. 

Chris Paul joining the Houston Rockets and James Harden.
Paul George joining Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. 
Good friends Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan deciding to join forces in Brooklyn.
Some think it’s horrific that players can have that much control over how long a contract lasts or who they to play with. Actually it’s a great business decision, because the players understand their worth to league as true commodities. 
The NBA's popularity is based on the talent level of its players, who are the primary reason, fans watch the games, purchase merchandise and buy tickets.

There are others who contend that 'super teams' were not formed back in the day and believe that a player should stay with the same franchise until he's old and gray, to show loyalty and appreciation. Really ? Has everyone forgot this is a business and that players are one injury or illness from losing their livelihood, just ask Chris Bosh who had a medical condition that forced him to exit the NBA. 

In 26 seasons, from the 1979-80 season (Magic Johnson's rookie year) through the 2004-05 season, only seven NBA franchises won championships
 Los Angeles Lakers (8)
 Chicago (6)
Boston ( 3)
Detroit ( 3) 
San Antonio (3 )  
Houston (2)
Philadelphia ( 1) 

At the forefront of these franchises monopolizing the league championships during this time, were crafty General Managers who implemented a puzzle design, using their knowledge to put the proper pieces in place. Also understanding the need to replace pieces in the puzzle to continue a winning tradition. 
Savvy front offices understood the need to secure a good coach, a marquee player and a talented side-kick to serve as the team's foundation, and complete the roster with role players who filled the empty pieces of the puzzle.   
The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls were wizards at executing this formula over the years. 

Let's take a look at the Chicago Bulls roster of players who were a part of the six championship seasons during their reign.  
Superstar - Michael Jordan 
Side kick - Scottie Pippen
Rebounders - Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman
Shooters- John Paxson, Craig Hodges, BJ Armstrong and Steve Kerr
Power forwards - Rodney McCray, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston and Scott Williams
Carousel of bodies at center 
Luc Longley, Wil Perdue, Bill Cartwright, James Edwards, John Salley, Bill Wennington and Robert Parrish

The development of team chemistry by the coach was essential, along with solid roster development were vital to franchises winning championships.
A perplexing thought is why were there only a few General managers who had the knowledge to use the puzzle philosophy years ago?  

As a basketball fan, one of my first questions before I bought a ticket would have been, why is our front office continually making bad decisions, which hampers the franchise from contending to make the playoffs?

Many of the former NBA players who were criticizing today's talent for controlling their own destiny, were members of franchises that had crafty general managers who took care of the business, so they could just go out, play the game and focus on winning.  
One has to wonder why there was not much of an uproar back in the day when only a few franchises were winning the NBA Championship? Or maybe not. 

-end-

Share by: