HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Wizards guard John Wall is still in the formative stages of his NBA career, but he’s clearly not afraid to speak his mind.
Ask him for his opinion on something as sensitive as the ongoing labor dispute between NBA players and owners and he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks needs to happen. At least that’s what he did over the weekend, per the Washington Post. And in his estimation, it’s going to take more of a push from the league’s biggest stars for something to change:
“I think we’re going to have to have guys like Kobe [Bryant], LeBron [James], the face of the NBA, to step up and say something,” said Wall, who was in Las Vegas this week when National Basketball Players Association President Derek Fisher and executive director Billy Hunter updated the players on the labor impasse. “Derek Fisher and those guys are doing a great job, but I just want it to be over. I can’t really say too much. I only have one year under my belt. . . . I just want to sit back, learn and listen and see what’s going on during the meetings.”
Does Wall have a point? Should the game’s biggest names be more vocal and have a greater presence in order to get something done? We’ll get back to that in a minute, because Hunter insists that they have already done so.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times Hunter insists that not only are they involved, the union is unified and prepared for whatever the process throws at them in the coming weeks:
What role will NBA superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James play as this moves forward?
“They’ve been deeply involved in the meetings we’ve had. I know Kobe is intimately involved in interfacing with colleagues and sharing in a pool of revenue to help the others get through this. Kobe has volunteered to do that in the event others need, he and others are prepared to loan money if necessary.”
In fairness, Wall was talking about those high-profile players playing a larger part in some sort of solution to the labor issue and not just helping fellow players through whatever tough times, relatively speaking of course, that arise during the lockout.
So what say you? Should we hear and see more of guys like Kobe and LeBron in the future?
First of all; I would like to think that years of fore warning by the union should have the players prepared for a stand, at least for one season.
Second; I would also like to think that the union itself has sufficient funds to support a still unprepared member or a few members. I can’t imagine there are a whole lot of them living paycheck to paycheck (like myself).
Last; If Bryant, James, Nowitzki, Wade, Garnett, Rose, Griffin, Love … ten or twelve of them get together and call a press conference in a hotel and simply announce that they would back the union, not just this season but the next season too, if needed … The 2011 season would start on time.
Now, I am not saying they should say that … if you ask me … they should ask for the dissolution of the NBA as it stands today and its resurrection without Stern, Silver and a majority of today’s owners.
But, as Mr. David Aldridge says, “No one asked you “ !
i wouldn’t worry too much because look at the NFL there lockout was long and some how they were able to come togather and end the lockout and the season start on time.
This labor dispute is complicated. Unlike labor union in the real world, these players are the chosen ones worldwide. It is quite different from the good old days when kids try hard playing street ball and end up in the league. Thus, if these elite players can’t demand what they want based on simple macroeconomic theory of supply and demand, who else can replace them. Frankly, you don’t expect owners and management staff to start shooting hoops and expect to sell tickets. Jordon, McHale, Magic, and a few may rally a senior league. That’s about it. You don’t expect to promote the D-league players or street hoops champ or even collegue recruits to shoot the light out either. People buy tickets to see “snow white”. But without the “7 dwarfs”, there is no show. To be fair, Kobe can score 81 points in a game. But, don’t you get sick of it. Personally, I enjoy watching the superstars leading the team not necessary leading the score box.
It used to be without the owners, players are nothing. It is quite the opposite now. Without the players, owners are nothing. Please, my idols, go all out, play overseas if necessary, show the owners you stand tall and don’t be messing around with the hands and legs that grunt for them. We, fans, will watch you regardless of where you are and who you are playing for. We may have to stay up to watch you play the game. So as many fans worldwide watching you time after time. Please don’t let us down and show the world what you are made of. Thank you so much for giving your 100% on and off the court.
If ANY player in the NBA is living “paycheck to paycheck” then it’s their own fault for not handle their finances correctly. I do NOT see any way of ANY NBA player finding himself asking for a loan at the bank, I just don’t see it. I think this whole thing is a slap in the face to the NBA fans out there and to the sport. Get over your egos and your million dollar whims and start playing ball. You guys don’t know how ridiculous you look asking for more money (both sides) when there’s so much misery in the world and your worried about cents and nickles when your making millions.
Ummm why does everyone exclude Wade, he is also the face of the NBA and deserves credit for it, in my opinion he is better than Lebron, not that Lebron is bad or anything. My point is that wade should be taken as the face of the NBA along with Lebron and Kobe because he is an amazing player and is capable of more than he has already shown.
my man plzzz he is better than lebron r u serious??..well yeah thats ur opinion so i guess the other 98% of people know lebron is the man..lol…wade havent shine since he won that championship in wich shaq was still on his prime…now he shine this year cuz a king name lebron james was playing with him and now everybody is talkin about lebron..look be real lets be real if lebron get injured heats wont make the playoff…NOW if wade get injure heats will still make the playoffs…why cuz we all know lebron prove in the past he can take a team with no help deep enough..can u say the same about wade? no thanks points made..aight man have a good one…
Two words for you …. “choke Artist”
the heat made the playoffs when it was wade and 4 scrubs on the court.. wade has the will to win.. i appreciate wade’s game more.. can lebron play more positions of course he can.. but a lot of that is his size.. i like the finesse play wade offers the game.. lebron carried most of cleveland sure.. but having the best record in the nba twice in a row and not doing anything with that says something about his ability to perform on a big stage.. wade dragged his team through the playoffs every year they got there.. even as a rookie
Yeah but Wade got knocked out of the first round everytime. I mean he is good but from what I have seen it depends on the pieces around him. A lot like Kobe by himself can’t even get out of the first round. Put good pieces around him champions will come.
So Lebron is better than by numbers. As a guy who gets it done night in and night Wade is a better player on a consistant basis. Lebron can fill up the stats sheet, but far as a player, a winner, a champion, and leadership. He hasn’t shown that I won’t give up or that killer instinct to close out a game or to win a game. That to me will continue to plague the legacy of Lebron. Being clutch has to go hand and hand with being the best because when it is all on the line in all honesty Lebron would not be the guy you want to have the ball at crunch time. I can name a few people hands down I would give the ball to before Lebron at that deciding moment. Melo, Durant, Kobe, Nowitzki, Wade, Monta, Rose, Pierce, Allen, and Nash. Lebron all around is great, but what is he the best at? He isn’t the best scorer nor in the top ten as and all around scorers. He isn’t the best defender at his position nor top 5. He is a mismatch, but all good players are they make mismatches with their abilities. He is definitely one of the best in the league, but not the best.
Look im a fan of both but it is a proven fact no matter what when it comes down to the FINALS…DWAYNE WADE IS BETTER. Wade made it to the finals and on his first try he took it. Shaq or not it wasnt shaq alone that brought them back from 0-2 Wades determination and will brought home the ring. Lebron made it to the finals once n what can u say they got swept by the spurs case close. They made it to the finals again. Sure Lebron was responsible for their wins against bulls and my team the Boston Celtics which individually they have trouble beating!…But n e ways they made it in the finals against mavs. Now Ill tell u lebron choked again in the finals when he was needed most. Wade went hard bosh did his thing n Lebron choked. If Lebron didnt choke Miami might have been 2 rings away from a 3 peat or more. But Lebron choked. Lets not forget wade can do just about anything lebron can plus wade is 4 inches shorter and lighter. Lets also remember Wade was a shocker in the 2003 draft picked at number 5 but the so called shocker has up to this day had a better career than current teammate #4 Chris Bosh, #3 Carmelo Anthony, #2 Darko Milicic, and current teammate and #1 pick drafted from “High School” LeBron James. Wade is better as a player in every aspect of the game and he also has a ring to back it up and even if him and LeBron win rings together Wade will always have 1 more than him a ring he won without him. Period. Case close. N if n e 1 tries to mention anything about kobe. No debate hes in a league of his own. True facts coming from a Celtics Fan. Boston still #1
I agree with you, but you forgot to say that they beat a injured Celtics team.
I’m not extremely familiar with the intricacies of the lock-out, so I won’t say whether they should step up. However, if they did, there is no question that the owners would be forced to speed up negotiations and compromise.
Stars like LeBron and Kobe are like the President(s) of the US, while the owners/organizations are like Congress. Those faces of the league can use the media to their advantage, demonize the owners, and pressure the owners to strike a deal somehow. I’m certain tons of people will listen to what Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Howard, etc. say. I doubt the owners could pull 1/100th of the number of listeners stars could.
This is off topic but where can I catch the Euro games on TV? Since it looks like I Have no NBA to look forward to.
Superstars like Lebron & Kobe aren’t going to show up to the meetings and try to work out a deal. This whole lockout is about THEM. They aren’t worried about salary cuts because most of them are cutting their own salaries to stack teams. Essentially, superstars are paid so much that all they are worried about is when is the season going to start. So they are less concerned about the salaries of their teammates & John Wall is exactly correct. It would be plain stupid to try to get them to the bargaining table because, again, they have very different wants so the players on a whole are very divided when it comes to money and what they are seeking. Thats why we only see the very young, very old and/or the least talented at the bargaining table. They aren’t making as much as the superstars. And here Kobe Bryant is essentially trying to “buy” this facade of support for his teammates when he could really care less. This flaunting of superstar cash (loaning to teammates or buying your way onto a team) just shows how messed up the current CBA really is.
also, the owners aren’t going to listen to Bryant, James, Nowitzki, etc. because most owners don’t have those superstars. If you get the superstars in on the bargaining then it becomes obvious how hypocritical they are. They are arguing for more money even though they are so rich they are giving up money to stack a team. On top of this, they are getting their minions (the regular players) to argue it for them.
ALSO, if you get rid of stern, silver & the owners, you don’t have an NBA dufus, as you can clearly see right now. Right now, the NBA is a bad investment because of the current CBA so you won’t get any new owners investing. Thats exactly why they are being so stubborn so that these gluttonous players don’t ruin the NBA. Sure the owners are being greedy as well, but the consequences are beneficial to the game.
It kills me that the players want more money. As it is once they sign there contract there done. Just go and play. The owners on the other hand have to take all the risk. If Labron, Kobe, Wade or any other superstar gets hurt, they still get there money. On the other hand the attendence potentially goes down, concessions go down and the owners lose money, potentially millions. My goodness the players have it made. Meals, hotel, flight arrangements everything is done for them for almost 9 months a year all paid for by the owners. Players = Minimal risk, Owners = all the risk. Sorry players. I am a huge NBA guy, but for the most part I need to side with the Owners.
I agree!
I too agree. See my comment below.
I do think they need to step up and do something. They dont have to overtly come out and attack the owners or anything like that but they do need to be part of the solution. Kobe has indicated that he is open to playing overseas. Even this could entice the owners to talk a little more because I dont think that Lakers front management would be too thrilled to see their franchise cornerstone (who has been battling a couple injuries and is getting old) playing overseas.
If Kobe, LeBron, Melo, etc. all got together and said “If we don’t figure this thing out by (whatever date) and these things (whatever is in players best interests) aren’t done then we will taking our talents abroad, Europe, China, wherever.” The NBA can’t survive without its all stars and money makers. And the players need to stand strong, play a season over seas if thats what needs to be done.
Also those stars won’t make the money that they make here either so if you are willing to lose money. why not just take a pay cut here and keep things moving. LOL I thnik that one thing the owners want that is a great idea was a salary cap that makes all the teams contenders. A league where anybody can win makes every game meaningful. I don’t want to see a 20 – 62 win loss record for a team. That isn’t entertaining at all.
I agree with John Wall this lockout needs to end now, all it is, is greed which isn’t good for the league
if it wasn’t for the fans we would not have a league right now we’re the ones that help keep the league alive , we’re the reason why players love playing every day, its because of us the fans.
At the end of the day Players can go overseas but that will result in failure. How many people can watch euro or chinese basketball on television. Players can play abroad but they can get career ending injuries for less money. That would be foolish for any players. At the end of day I’m in a union and the days are close to being over.
omg, Kobe and Lebron should be loaning me some $$$$ that I will not pay back cuz I owe a ton of student loan…Players that are in trouble financially should simply CUT BACK, like most American….I need help kobe…
Enough said..
Great. Wanting two high school graduates to step up on labor talks. Good job, people.
And what college did Bill Gates graduate from?
why the players dont give their money to pay the problem in the nba that could be good for the league and for the fans
Owners need to drop their ‘hard cap’ demand.
Players need to drop ‘guaranteed contracts’ – it’s not a birthright or an earned right, it was negotiated, for a different time, different economic climate.
Owners need to share revenues equally. Stop doing 30 local TV deals. Market NBA games – rivalries should matter.
Make the season shorter, if needed, to spark interest in games. Football is interesting because every game matters. When a team has clinched everything with 2 games left in football, it’s boring for the fans as 2nd / 3rd stringers play it out and ugly football ensues.
When a team has clinched everything with 15 games left in basketball, the boring factor multiples infinitely, even with the stars still playing every game.
Point being, the NBA needs some tweaking. It’s exciting at moments, but not as all-engrossing as the NFL, and may never be, unless things change.
you forget that the NFL games aren’t that meaningful until about week 12 or 13 and that’s if the division leaders aren’t clear cut. Only the wild card teams fight for a spot in the playoffs most times. I think some sort of cap should be in place to make teams more balanced in their field of competition. How about 20 teams competitve instead of just 6 to 8 dominant squads. Let talent developement determine great teams like OKC, Grizz, Blazers, Bulls and etc…..
I’d hate to see any player go overseas. It should not come to that and I think that the owners have done a great job keeping NBA players happy and spoiled thus far. Normally, I’m not one to side with the “Establishment” but in this case it is clear that the league is facing difficulty with the bad economic climate, and owners unable to yield a profit. Not to mention that there are only a handful of athletes left who really want to display any level of Virtuosity. Contract’s like Arenas’ point the problem back at the owners, but that doesn’t change the fact that fewer players seem willing to make an effort to become true stars anymore, diminishing their game, and the value of their teams as a whole. I believe the players could sacrifice a little still be happy with their pay because nothing that they receive overseas or outside the league will ever compare.
Say what you want about “The stars/players make the game.” I love to see Durant/Lebron/Melo play, but I would never pay $2000 for season tickets to see them and a couple street ballers play at the YMCA in wife beaters LOL.
So if the owners demolished the stadiums, destroyed the jerseys, concession stands, public practices, billboards and etc… Do the stars still make the game no. They both play apart. They are both richer than the average Joe. Even low level players make around 400,000+ a year . I side with neither because they both contribute we just see the players, but the owners are the guys that get the guys we go to see. LOL try watching a movie without actors and then watch a movie without a crew. Both equal bad for business.
to all the people complaining and crying about the lockout and when will it end?
why dont you train all summer sweat bleed and break bones and perform in front of thousands each day +millions watching on tv then you can talk……
I bet if i told you that i would only pay you 20 bucks a day to be in the nba would you agree and cut back?
the average american works about 30 hours per week and makes minimum wage 7 dollars an hour or so. 30 hours divided by 7 days is about 4.3 hours a day x 7 =30.1 dollars a day.so let me cut that in half.
so you play for me in the NBA now for 15 dollars and 55 cents. per day.
would you agree to that?
any fan can answer me otherwise STFU,try going getting yourself a life and let the pros do theyr jobs.
NBA is a greedy league. I love Eurobasket . I like to see European country united to form a new league.
I have a problem with this from all sides.
I never have, and I never will, agree with the idea of a salary cap, soft or hard. If economics are the problem and part of the problem is that “small markets” can’t compete because they’re small, simple business logic indicates that either relocation or contraction is necessary. A salary cap does nothing to solve this issue, and it also doesn’t solve the issue of owners overpaying athletes and attempting to circumvent caps with signing bonuses, deferred contracts, and other manipulations. The NHL, 7 years after its so-called hard cap system was put into play, has shown us that. Yes, I realize that there are cities with an NBA history such as Portland that could potentially be affected; however, the NBA has shown that they will relocate franchises in the not-so-distant past in an effort to make more money for all concerned.
However, the players are partly to blame as well, and they’re in a system where decertification of a union could potentially make some sense. What no one is really asking, and what I’d like to know, is the reasoning behind both a union and player agents. If player agents negotiate for the best possible deal on behalf of their players, then what purpose does the union serve? For that matter, the same question could be asked of the agents. One or the other doesn’t belong, and the additional cost is borne by the players, and by chain reaction the owners, and then those of us who sit in the seats or who buy merchandise or even who just watch the games on TV (since the cost of TV rights impacts the cost of our cable/satellite bills).
Basically, the whole structure of the league, and for that matter professional sports, needs to be radically rethought from the ground up.
Adam, although an NBA salary cap is quite different from a government imposed ‘ceiling’, your point is well taken. No arbitrary limit is ever productive. Player salaries are NOT a product of shrewd bargaining or cunning agents. As high as they might seem, they promise a good ‘return on investment’ to the franchise owner. As such really not a ‘labor union’ issue at all.
Movie stars make far, far more than any NBA superstar per minute worked. Yet studios want the highest paid ones in their productions, because Johnny Depp’s name alone guarantees a $200 million opening weekend. Movies go bust all the time yet no one negotiates lower salaries with the actors union.
You are absolutely right in letting a failing business die, propping it with bailouts only weakens the rest of the system.
It is not too far a stretch of imagination to visualize a business model for NBA where 30, nay 40, teams (let there be more venues, in the interest of the game) play to a 50% audience allowed gratis (local school children, seniors, police, firefighters, who have you) and each and every team independently profitable, making it’s owner a guaranteed percentage over prime AND guaranteeing a larger number of players a greater share of the RBI. No $15 parking and $10 beer either.
It is a discomforting thought, but totally workable. Completely realistic.
Oh’ by the way, an ‘agent’ is a parasite. Where ever there is warm blood, there are leeches. You are correct; they are a strain on the system and should be extracted.
Well that logic doesn’t take into consideration what happens when a major team leaves their area. The effects on the community and city as a whole. I think with a cap it can attempt to keep teams competitve. It is easier to watch a team that is on the edge of turning the corner for a title opposed to seeing the Wizards and the Kings flop year in and year out. Maybe I might be wrong, but if the cap stimulates competition than that causes revenues to go up due to the fact that teams are worth watching. LOL how many teams can New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania house.
otis, I’d reply to your post but for some reason the NBA site won’t let me (wonky commenting system).
First of all, the Kings are all but set to relocate after next season, and they’re a Cali team, so obviously something isn’t working the way it’s supposed to economically with the “cap/tax” system.
Second, there’s nothing to suggest that a cap in any way makes teams more competitive or will have any positive effect on a community. Again, look at the NHL. 7 years of a hard cap and the league is an absolute mess. Atlanta was forced to relocate to the booming metropolis known as Winnipeg, and Phoenix is propped up on $25 million of taxpayer money, among others. They’re far from the only two franchises with issues, too. And if you think a hard cap is going to solve this…well, think again.
Other than that, what SFA said (quite well, I might add).
@Adam no objection to what you are saying. No cap can save a business, but was hoping that some form of a cap could have talent distributed through out the league to make things more interesting. Who wants to see a game where the game is all but disgarded as give away. LOL just hoping that teams could be competitve one way or thee other. Either way a cap can’t and doesn’t insure wins or losses. There are stories of over achievers ( OKC, Portland, Memphis ) and underachievers ( Miami, Lakers, ).I guess it boils down to a article I read. Talent developement, better decision making, and coaching. LOL bring back the late 80s to early 90s again.
It would be great to see a poll on who’s with the players and who’s with the owners. Is there a poll somewhere??
Personally, i’m with the owners here. Hard to believe on top of the millions of dollars they want MORE as a share of revenues. Wait up! Who owns the teams? Oh i see, its the owners. The employees (read players) are paid more than fairly for what they do.
Its laughable to be sharing over half your business revenues with your staff. Its sickening to watch them hold out their greedy hands for more money but a lot of fans know thats what its all about. All about the money. If the players don’t come to the table i’m one fan who will walk.
What a greedy bunch of self involved, juvenile punks.
Agree with you 100%
In opposit to usual business you won’t find substituts to the nba star, they’re more like the top employees or managers of a global player. They’re absolute specialists and specialists get paid very well in ordibary business and/or big shares.
Specialist don’t shoe deals game covers jersey sales gatorade under armor and etc… deals neither players get extra revenue that owners don’t get. In fairness shouldn’t the owners get a cut do to free advertisement players get in their arenas videos clothing shoes. If you going to split the cash split it all right????
Today’s players have a lot of nerve asking for a guaranteed percentage of BRI. Once a player has a contract any extra money the team generates should go to the owner. The owners have brought all this on themselves because they are the ones offering the huge long term contracts. It is sickening to think that the last guy on the bench today probably makes more in one season than old time superstars made in their ENTIRE career. What ever happened to playing for the love of the game or the history of the game or the records? The money doesn’t mean a thing to the fans. I’m more interested in seeing Kobe climb up the all time scoring list. A season lost destroys the integrity of the history of the game.
Salaries for players should be based on a tiered system, with a high and low set point. The owners should get a remaining 50% and the remainder should go to the city represented to help offset people in need. By doing this the players as well as the owners would be contributing not only toward the entertainment of citizens but to humanity in general. Create jobs that are self sustaining then poorer neighborhoods can be helped… We can help ourselves if we get past the greed mentallity…. None of them need to make quite what they are making…
Kobe and Lebron I feel are mere examples of what needs to happen when it comes to having the ”faces” of the NBA come out and say whatever it is that needs to be said to put more perspective on the issues. Bryant and James might be high school graduates, but they are smart individuals that by now, know the business and how it works. Enough to be spokesman of the league. However, if we need others to step up, why not Tim Duncan, Dwayne Wade (as he was mentioned earlier), Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitski, Dwight Howard and I am sure I can name others, however I feel these faces are the most familiar due to their known accomplishments, pull within the league as well as relations with the fans. All being college graduates nonetheless. Would be like back when Pippen, Jordan, Bird, David Robinson, Ewing, and other high profile players spoke out as well during their lockouts. This generation of players needs to be stronger in their belief of what kind of union we need or want and get back to playing while also not being so selfish. We are fand that pay into this league as well and would rather not put more money into spoiled players and owners who argue about millions in revenue sharing while many of us are living pay check to pay check to watch you guys are the local pub or are lucky enough to buy a ticket to a game. I personally believe a hard cap is not the end of the world and would make for a more competitive league like hockey and the nfl as well as a more evolving one which sees new teams rise each year. Dynasty’s are great, but there is no excitement in having the same teams win every single year just because they can afford the luxury tax to buy the championship pieces that other smaller markets can not. If we do not have a season this year, I am afraid the NBA product would have too much of a bad reputation for me to stomach and am liable to never watch another game or care for NBA basketball.
Wall, may have a point. Things tend to change when #24 walk into a building. It would put a little more pressure on the owners to say, enough is enough, we need to get this done. And the smaller market owners can, and will voice opinions about not really being able to stomach a whole srike season.. It def. couldn’t hurt..
Announcement: The owners will not budge. Not even #24, or 23 can pressure capital, specially when the stakes are that big. What both parties need is a meeting without STERN’s group, and a 3rd party negotiator. A credible one. Realign income distribution and a total re-engineering of the system from scratch. Get that NFL deal maker on board! 911!
Guys Listen. Stop saying KOBE the Rapist Mamba or LEBronze. Do you know why there is an NBA Lock out? its Because of the NBA Champions Dallas Mavs. LOL
I find these opinions very interesting. But I wonder how many “I-will-walk-out-on-the-nba” fans would stay anti pro ball the next time Kobe dropped 81 points, or would have missed Dirk’s first ring….
It’s stupid that the players making it look like they’re not getting paid enough… You players are doing well enough than 95% of the rest of the world. What are you whining about ?!
Seems like everybody is preparing for a long long vacations of basketball. If they don’t reach an agreement this coming week it will be for good .
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