If you were an NBA player would you care about winning?

[Drakeem]

Not really. I mean, I'm not going to actively lose, and if I get on a team where I can compete for something I'd be pumped, but I'd treat it as a job for the most part.

[jojo4341]

I think it largely depends on the level of player you are. Despite that, I would think many still care about winning regardless. Most of these players have been winning in basketball all their lives. They get to the highest level...who wouldn't want to win? But personally, consider these scenarios:

1. I'm a superstar. I'm going to get paid the max or close it it regardless, plus endorsements. You bet I care about winning. Though I would love to do it with the team that drafts me like a Dirk, Kobe and even Reggie Miller even if he failed.

2. I'm a borderline allstar. I get paid well and will probably start on any team I'm on. Yes, I would still care about winning. If I was on a contender, then all of a sudden was traded to a lottery team, I'd be disappointed for sure. I'd always play hard because I'm still trying to maximize my contracts and play as long as I can. (Ex Khris Middleton)

3. I'm a rotational player, maybe a 6th to 8th man. I think it's similar to scenario 2, but I probably wouldn't mind being on a treadmill or bad team because I know I'm going to play and still be useful. If I happen to be on a contender and win, that's good too. Other teams will say "Look, he's won a title and contributed." (Ex. Alex Caruso)

4. I'm a scrub, fighting for contracts every year or two. Yeah, I don't care about winning unless I'm getting minutes.

[KGtabake]

Jordan Poole is a champion.
And he was an important part of that championship.
His play decided his contract.
Poole is a champion.
Some people at his position that never got a ring:
John Stockton. Jason Kidd. Steve Nash...soon Chris Paul.

Everybody want to win. Some more than others, sure. And money is the priority like in any profession.
Why not make money while winning though?

[Raps in 4]

Of course. I don't think you can become an elite athlete without being an inherently competitive person.

LeBron went to the Lakers so he could film Space Jam 2. At the time, people thought he was content with his career and didn't care about winning anymore. But it didn't take long before he got tired of losing and started courting other players to join him so they could get back to winning.

Jokic says he cares about other things more than basketball, and he might, but when he's on the court, he is extremely intense and very clearly wants to win.

[TheAlchemist]

I wouldn’t give two flying raccoon farts of an F. I’d play great for 5:6 years and then be injured and run with my money.

[BlzMwt]

People get heated during pick up games at your local park over whose ball it is.

Players spending tens of thousands of hours putting in the work obviously care about winning (which brings extra money to them anyways)

[NbaAllDay]

If the question was.

Would you rather earn big money (30 mill a year) and never win.

Or earn (10 mill) a year and win a few rings/accolades etc.

I'd be taking the 30 mill a year.

[Meat]

Winning would be my #1 priority. I would trade $500M for one ring. I am built different

or you imagine you are

[Meat]

no, once it becomes a job it becomes about money, whatever gets me the most money for the least amount of work is the best for the employee\player.

that's how paid labor works

[jbk1234]

Winning is a lot more fun than losing.

[Yoshun]

I'm way to competitive to not care about winning.

[Blame Rasho]

Watch on YouTube

[kenwood3333]

A similar question is if an nba player should care about staying healthy, after all you still get paid if you are unable to play, see PG (Zion to some extend) as prime examples. The objective should to be find that one team willing to give you a max contract regardless of your health history.

[dhsilv2]

Of course. I don't think you can become an elite athlete without being an inherently competitive person.

This is just completely not true. The sad reality is genetics are just that. There are so many guys who make the NBA on their natural born talents and nothing else. Not most or even remotely close to a majority. But it's a heck of a lot of them.

[pipfan]

I used to be hyper-competitive, to the point of being a jerk (always apologizing immediately after the game). Now that I'm old I still play for fun, but I play to win (nicely).

I think most NBA players really want to win-a small percentage don't love it and are in it only for the fame/money

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I’m sure they all start with caring about winning but when they stop enjoying the game and don’t want to practice anymore, I’m sure the money becomes more important.

I am saying this as a Magic fan that watched many players no longer care about winning but just wanted a paycheck.

I refuse to believe players do not care about winning, but it is their job, they suppose to get paid and took the best financial offers. I would definitely do the same, I would prefer to play in Europe if I had a choice, and there are definitely locations where I would not play no matter how much they would offer me, just cause of my political and ethical principles, but I would seek the bag.

I find it asinine when fans chastise players for taking the bag over going or staying on a ''winning team'', same fans who proclaim American sports superior due to salary cap rules, parity all that. I mean, that all stops working if players start refusing to take money and instead just team up to win titles. The whole sustem is built on belief players would go after the money.

I have watched podcast of some players talk about how they no longer like the NBA game. So, some do stay for the money and winning is secondary.

[MrBigShot]

If you don't win you are forgotten.

Everything comes with winning. Money, fame, individual accolades

[Lalouie]

money buys caring

I just don't want to hear players whining about no rings from their Hollywood hills estate

[Alatan]

I agree. NBA contracts should be tied with the number of games a player plays and split in two parts. The first part is a guaranteedmoney a player gets for the regular season and the second part is a significant percentage that he gets based on teams playoff performance.

[bledredwine]

I'm older so I'd probably be like "ughhhh I don't feel like competing today" and I'd be secretly carrying around bags of oily food to eat.


Actually, I would compete if I didn't have my first big contract yet.