NBA free agency started on Sunday night. It has been a melee with numerous deals announced after the 6pm mark. Bleacher Report claimed that the first day of the free agency saw $3bn in contracts signed.
That’s a lot of money. Players’ lives are changed over night. Career takes dramatic turns over night.
Yet, the irony in all this show of wealth is that while some players command attention, freedom and money, others may not be able to choose where to work. Grown men in the 20s or 30s don’t even get to choose where to work and live. If traded suddenly, they have to uproot their family and disrupt their spouses or kids’ lives.
That’s what I find very sad about the NBA. At least in soccer or what we call football, players have all the freedom in the world to choose where to work. If they don’t want to, their current clubs can’t force them out, unless contracts are broken and the players get all the contract value. Take Gareth Bale for instance. His manager doesn’t want him. His club doesn’t want him. His teammates don’t like him. The fans in Madrid don’t want to see him. Yet, unless he is willing to be transferred, there is nothing that Madrid can do.
Another disappointing aspect of the NBA is some hostile fans. By playing, players essentially trade their time and health for money. Injuries happen. Your body takes a toll. Continuous workouts are required. Media presence is mandated. Yet, players sometimes don’t get to choose where to play and live. Nonetheless, that doesn’t stop hostile fans from throwing tantrums at players whenever they do what is in their best interest. Take Kevin Durant for instance. He did what he thought was best for him by signing with GSW. Yet, he is called soft, a snake and other vulgarities.
Money and fame do come at an expense. Costly expense.
Minh Quang Duong 