2024-25 NBA Thread

[WhiteTrash]

I found this interesting. This morning on NBA Radio, Brian Scalabrine said, depending on each team, 30%-80% of NBA players are not happy with the team they are with.

I wonder how much this plays into the "injury" time off issue in the NBA. I also wonder if this is true in other sports.

[wadesworld]

I found this interesting. This morning on NBA Radio, Brian Scalabrine said, depending on each team, 30%-80% of NBA players are not happy with the team they are with.

I wonder how much this plays into the "injury" time off issue in the NBA. I also wonder if this is true in other sports.

30-80%?!  Why not just say 0-100% at that point?

[MUfan12]

30-80%?!  Why not just say 0-100% at that point?

Right? He really went out on a limb there.

[WhiteTrash]

30-80%?!  Why not just say 0-100% at that point?

You do realize is 0-100% is twice as much as 30-80%. Not really close.

It is probably just me but I'm surprise that even on the best teams, 4 or 5 players want out. I wonder if 30% or more of the Eagles are unhappy in Philadelphia.

[Uncle Rico]

You do realize is 0-100% is twice as much as 30-80%. Not really close.

It is probably just me but I'm surprise that even on the best teams, 4 or 5 players want out. I wonder if 30% or more of the Eagles are unhappy in Philadelphia.

Probably

[WhiteTrash]

Probably

Crazy. I guess money, fame, first class accommodations, playing a game for a living, etc. doesn't buy happiness.

[Uncle Rico]

Crazy. I guess money, fame, first class accommodations, playing a game for a living, etc. doesn't buy happiness.

Guys on the bench want to start or play more.  Guys want to get paid more.  Guys may not like a city, coaches, GMs or any number of things.

[WhiteTrash]

Guys on the bench want to start or play more.  Guys want to get paid more.  Guys may not like a city, coaches, GMs or any number of things.

Makes me appreciate Shaka even more.

[The Sultan]

I guess they stopped shooting so many threes.   

https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/viewership-rebounds-cuts-early-season-losses.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

[JWags85]

Crazy. I guess money, fame, first class accommodations, playing a game for a living, etc. doesn't buy happiness.

They aren't unhappy being NBA players, they aren't happy with their current situation.  They are in demand and have options...

Guys on the bench want to start or play more.  Guys want to get paid more.  Guys may not like a city, coaches, GMs or any number of things.

Exactly.  And the NBA is a giant fraternity.  They all have friends, former teammates, college teammates, etc...  in other spots in the league.  So when a coaching staff stinks or the GM isn't doing what you can to win, its not hard to see players being unhappy.  Not enough to hold out or force a trade, but enough to say you're not totally happy if asked.

At least 50% of teams have NO shot to win a title every year.  So that could easily be 50% of players who could say they aren't happy if their dream is to win a ring.

Comparing the amazing perks of being a professional athlete to normal working professionals and discounting dissatisfaction as a result is just an apples to oranges comparison.  These are players who work insanely hard to reach a pinnacle of sport, and having expectations about a franchise, especially if you have been around other organizations, isn't that outlandish.  Giannis' quote the other day can still be completely true even if he wasn't happy on the Bucks or a similar player and sentiment with their team.

[wadesworld]

That was one of the more surprising Bucks wins I can remember.

[JWags85]

That was one of the more surprising Bucks wins I can remember.

The Gary Trent and Kuzma show taking down a playoff team with their superstar...as expected 

Kuzma has been solid for the Bucks.  Take away a rough first game on the road with a new team and he's averaging 18/9/3 on 48% shooting.  His 3P shooting still stinks as it had all year, but almost 60% inside the arc in those 3 games.  Gonna be a great 3rd option if he keeps playing within himself 

[BM1090]

The Bucks actually look pretty good. Not sure what the ceiling is, but they are playing together well and it's a bunch of dudes who know their roles. Getting Bobby more involved in the offense has revitalized him too.

It's been fun watching them grow for the first time in a couple years.

[forgetful]

One of the worst officiated plays in the NBA that I've seen in Warriors vs. Mavs.

Poziemski brings the ball up, clears half-court with ~19 s left on shot clock.

Tries to pass, defender intentionally kicks the ball and then deflects it back beyond 1/2 court. Mavs player collects the ball and goes to score.

Refs pause game to correct the call. After a lengthy discussion, they give the ball to the Mavs and call an 8-second violation.

The Mavs player scored with 17 s still on the shot clock, so he deflected the ball, collected it, and scored, before the 8 s was even up.

Terrible call. If you pause the game, at least get the call right. Clear and obvious intentionally kicked ball.

[BM1090]

One of the worst officiated plays in the NBA that I've seen in Warriors vs. Mavs.

Poziemski brings the ball up, clears half-court with ~19 s left on shot clock.

Tries to pass, defender intentionally kicks the ball and then deflects it back beyond 1/2 court. Mavs player collects the ball and goes to score.

Refs pause game to correct the call. After a lengthy discussion, they give the ball to the Mavs and call an 8-second violation.

The Mavs player scored with 17 s still on the shot clock, so he deflected the ball, collected it, and scored, before the 8 s was even up.

Terrible call. If you pause the game, at least get the call right. Clear and obvious intentionally kicked ball.

They even corrected and said it was an inadvertent whistle, not 8 seconds. But still gave the mavericks the ball and ignored the kick. That one was truly odd.

[cheebs09]

They even corrected and said it was an inadvertent whistle, not 8 seconds. But still gave the mavericks the ball and ignored the kick. That one was truly odd.

The Mavs players do deserve a break after the Luka trade.

[WhiteTrash]

They aren't unhappy being NBA players, they aren't happy with their current situation.  They are in demand and have options...

Exactly.  And the NBA is a giant fraternity.  They all have friends, former teammates, college teammates, etc...  in other spots in the league.  So when a coaching staff stinks or the GM isn't doing what you can to win, its not hard to see players being unhappy.  Not enough to hold out or force a trade, but enough to say you're not totally happy if asked.

At least 50% of teams have NO shot to win a title every year.  So that could easily be 50% of players who could say they aren't happy if their dream is to win a ring.

Comparing the amazing perks of being a professional athlete to normal working professionals and discounting dissatisfaction as a result is just an apples to oranges comparison.  These are players who work insanely hard to reach a pinnacle of sport, and having expectations about a franchise, especially if you have been around other organizations, isn't that outlandish.  Giannis' quote the other day can still be completely true even if he wasn't happy on the Bucks or a similar player and sentiment with their team.

Fair enough. I guess I didn't give the full context of Scalabrine's comment,  but he was making the point it was a material increase from when he played. He retired 12 years ago.

While he's more in the know than any of us, he could be wrong.

[JWags85]

Fair enough. I guess I didn't give the full context of Scalabrine's comment,  but he was making the point it was a material increase from when he played. He retired 12 years ago.

While he's more in the know than any of us, he could be wrong.

I don't think he's necessarily wrong (80% might be high, but he might have misspoke given that wild range) but I don't necessarily think its a "bad thing" or that odd.  And things have changed a TON in 10-12 years given visibility, social media, podcasting, etc...  A lot of things that can contribute to grass is greener mentalities but also just outlets for players to express some displeasure, even if its not material enough to impact their day to day.

[MU82]

I don't think he's necessarily wrong (80% might be high, but he might have misspoke given that wild range) but I don't necessarily think its a "bad thing" or that odd.  And things have changed a TON in 10-12 years given visibility, social media, podcasting, etc...  A lot of things that can contribute to grass is greener mentalities but also just outlets for players to express some displeasure, even if its not material enough to impact their day to day.

Not to mention the fact that at least 80% of employees complain at least sometimes about their jobs, no matter how good those jobs might be or how much they are paid. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, janitors, CEOs, baristas, whoever.

[WhiteTrash]

I don't think he's necessarily wrong (80% might be high, but he might have misspoke given that wild range) but I don't necessarily think its a "bad thing" or that odd.  And things have changed a TON in 10-12 years given visibility, social media, podcasting, etc...  A lot of things that can contribute to grass is greener mentalities but also just outlets for players to express some displeasure, even if its not material enough to impact their day to day.

I get that and it makes sense. I am of the opinion that players can have great desire for more PT and to win more but also be happy with the team and opportunities. I think we see that over that past few years on MU. I think our bench guys would give their left arm to play more and build an NBA resume but they are happy with MU and the opportunities Shaka gives them.

I'll admit that NBA players' dissatisfaction may have no correlation to the missed games issue.

[MU82]

The Athletic has an interesting article about some of the fallout from legal gambling on NBA games, including threats players get from ticked-off gamblers.

Players like Jalen Brunson, Isaiah Stewart, Josh Hart and more spoke on the record about the despicable messages they'll get on social media regarding bets that don't cash for certain "fans." From racist messages to mentioning family members/children to outright death threats, failed gamblers missing out on prop bets or game results are as brave as their anonymous social media accounts allow them to be.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6077963/2025/02/12/nba-sports-betting-players/?

[PGsHeroes32]

Why is the NBA all star weekend still a thing

Even the players think its a joke

The opening to that skills competition was crazy

[The Sultan]

Good article by Dan Wolken on how NBA's social media strategy, which has made it one of the world's most popular sports products, has inadvertantly killed the All Star game.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/dan-wolken/2025/02/15/nba-all-star-game-no-longer-special/78634790007/

[MuggsyB]

Apparently Draymond said the NBA game is boring with too many threes and no physicality.  Lol. 

[The Sultan]

Apparently Draymond said the NBA game is boring with too many threes and no physicality.  Lol. 

Yeah, the irony of that statement is pretty incredible.