Finding a balance in player empowerment
James Harden
With the NBA being far and away the most progressive sports league in the world, superstar players have come to hold an unparalleled level of power in contrast with athletes in other sports. Although the league has seen no shortage in players demanding trades since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blazed the trail in 1975, the superstar movement has undoubtedly intensified over the past few years. From Anthony Davis to Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, and James Harden, the emerging trend shows players have moved more frequently while under contract than in free agency.
Today, owners have displayed growing concerns about a balance of power between players and their organizations. Small market teams fear their homegrown stars will leave in pursuit of the easiest path to a championship, especially after signing max deals with fully guaranteed money. However, it is important to note that the values of competition and hard work instilled in these players are far from lost.
With just 450 spots to be had across the NBA, players remain relentless in perfecting their craft and giving their all to the game, with ticket & jersey sales reflecting as such. For the most part, these superstar players that have displayed a desire to be traded elsewhere have shown a fair level of commitment to the teams that drafted them. Davis, for example, had played through the entirety of his rookie deal, along with the first three years of his extension with New Orleans, before requesting a trade.
Through those seven years, the Pelican made the playoffs just twice, with a single second-round exit to show for it. Opposingly, when Giannis Antetokounmpo displayed his firm commitment to the small market of Milwaukee, the organization took it upon itself to make moves to put the team in a position to contend for a championship. As has been said since seemingly the dawn of sports, winning cures all, and the Bucks' championship run in 2021 is sure to keep their franchise player happy for some time.
Now, this is not to say there is no validity to the concerns of ownership throughout the league, as a select few have begun to take advantage of the power they hold as players. Harden, for instance, remained committed to the Houston Rockets for eight years before requesting a trade to the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, in doing so, he sabotaged the team by showing up to training camp out of shape while wreaking havoc on the locker room before his departure. And despite having achieved the exact result he was hoping for in being granted the opportunity to play alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, history would only repeat itself, as Harden went on to request another trade less than a year later. Ironically enough, he would be traded for Simmons, who forced his way out of the Philadelphia 76ers, citing mental health issues. Simmons had clashed with the organization for months and sat out the entire season with the intent to file a grievance against the 76ers to recoup $20 million in withheld salary.
That being said, it’s clear star players have some level of leverage over the organizations they choose to play for. Although they have the right to move freely from franchise to franchise, some have sought to abuse that power and hold organizations hostage. However, as Adam Silver said earlier this year, “The data shows that superstars moving isn't necessarily bad because it allows bad situations to change in an orderly way.” While such movement would ideally be through free agency, it is up to the owners to satisfy their star players by building a contending team around them. Nevertheless, while the actions of the few may not reflect that of the many, the reality is owners have grown sick and tired of players wanting out of contracts seemingly every year. So, with CBA negotiations right around the corner, it's time to buckle up.
