I'm taking my talents to South Beach. With that simple sentence, LeBron James changed the make-up and mind -set of the National Basketball Association. In the following weeks, rumors and stories circulated about stars such as Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony desiring to leave their respective organizations to form a rival super team with Amare Stoudemire and the Knicks in New York. If this trend continues, it offers a scary and dim future for the NBA.
My initial problem with this trend is the caliber of players trying to get out of a contract and demand a trade: Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony have not done anything to prove they are worthy to be a part of a superstar team. Don't get me wrong, they're great players. But neither has shown the ability to carry their respective teams through a playoff series into the NBA Finals, nor have they won multiple Most Valuable Player trophies. Chris Paul won the Rookie of the Year Award in the 2005-06 season, which is great, but he won it over Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bogut - tough crowd there. From what he has proven, Carmelo Anthony is simply an all-star. I say that because the Denver Nuggets would not be nearly as good of a team if it weren't for Chauncey Billups leading that team. At least LeBron James carried the Cavaliers on his back for seven years and racked up consecutive MVP trophies, a scoring title and the Rookie of the Year Award - over Anthony - before bailing on his team.
Which leads me to my next point: Does a contract mean anything anymore? LeBron James and Chris Bosh at least waited for their contracts to expire before deserting their teams. But the idea of requesting trades and contract extensions is setting a scary precedent in a sport where the player rules; if a team is not worthy enough for the player, the player can simply request a trade or demand an extension. This concept is unheard of in any profession outside sports. If an employee were to ask to be traded to another company or ask for an extension with the threat of holding out, he or she would be laughed out of the office. These athletes are supposed to be role models for children, and this methodology of trades and contract extensions is teaching kids if they complain enough, they will get what they want.
But the scariest thing about this trend is the building of dynasties in the NBA. Maybe this is a great concept for the casual fan, but as a die-hard basketball fan, I do not desire the three or four super-team scenarios that are more common in baseball or international soccer. What I love about the NBA is that any team has a chance every year. The underdog can flourish. In baseball, you can assume the Yankees will go deep in the playoffs, if not win the World Series. In international soccer, rest assured that Manchester United will win the English Premier League or Barcelona the Spanish La Liga. Basketball at least has the chance for the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Orlando Magic to win a championship.
Andrew Cluxton is a junior studying journalism and columnist for The Post.
Email him your next dynasty pick of the NBA at ac368407@ohiou.edu
4 Opinion
Andrew Cluxton
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