During a recent ESPN interview, NBA stars LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki said they are in favor of trimming the NBA season from 82 games to the mid-60’s.
Of course they are.
Here’s the article:
“In our season, 82 games is a lot,” James said. “Once you play, it takes a toll on your body. So it’s not lessening the minutes, I think it’s the games.”
Is it surprising the NBA’s current biggest superstar with a maximum salary wants fewer games? He is correct. Playing professional sports takes a toll on your body. And when your physical threshold has been reached, it’s time to step aside and make room for a new group of young players to take over the league. If you get cramps during the Playoffs and you can’t continue, well, there’s always someone else willing to step in.
Fewer games, for James, means less risk of injury. It also means still earning a ridiculous sum of money without having to make as many appearances. I’m sure player salaries would have to be reduced to compensate for fewer games, but at the level of James, and especially factoring in his endorsements, it amounts to pennies.
But how about the rookie desperate for playing time to prove to the league he is worthy of a superstar contract? The San Antonio Spurs tend to sit their aging superstars during various games throughout the regular season. This gave a player like Kawhi Leonard not only an opportunity to shine amongst the greats by earning, and being able to play, key minutes to rise into a starter position. Then what happened? This obscure talent become the Playoffs MVP when his team won the championship last season.
Fewer games gives a player like James an opportunity to remain at his peak for longer, which isn’t the right way to go about it. If you want to stay on top for an extended period of time, you have to put in the work. Already, advances in technology, health, fitness, and diet have allowed aging veterans a much longer career. During an interview between Time Warner Cable Sports Net commentator, James Worthy, and superstar Kobe Bryant, Worthy commented on his jealousy that he was only able to play for 10 seasons while Bryant is going on 19 seasons. Bryant specifically attributed his longevity to these advances.
“I think you don’t need 82 games to determine the best eight in each conference. That could be done a lot quicker.” Nowitzki said.
Actually, Nowitzki is wrong.
Injuries are a part of the game. A player has just as much risk of injury whether the season is 60 or 82 games. But the 82 can give a player who succumbs to injury an opportunity to rest, heal, and prepare to be at their best when the Playoffs begin.
More to Nowitzki’s point, 82 games determines the best eight in each conference in an 82-game season. Sure, 60 games will determine the best based on those number of games. And why don’t we make it a 20-game season, and we can determine who the best 8 are after 20 games and put them in the Playoffs?
Nowitzki wants the shortened season because at 36 years old, he isn’t going to have very much left in the tank. Fewer games and a reduction of minutes might allow him to play well into his 40’s. That’s great for Nowitzki, but his point seems to be about the efficiency of the season to put the best product out on the court. Sorry, but a 44-year-old Dirk who plays 12 minutes a game and collects a massive sum of money simply on his name isn’t good product.
I don’t blame James and Nowitzki for making their comments. But come on. We can see right through this.