Woj: Some Players getting cold feet about playing in Orlando

[basketballRob]

If the players don't want to play that's fine.

Everyone will just need to know and prepare for an even greater financial fallout. There's already articles on how this would lead to a lockout and cap in a new CBA could drop atleast 15 million.

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If some players don't play, they'll have other players.

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[basketballRob]

There's a couple of damning things about these recent reports. First of all, it appears the player's association didn't take into account the opinions of a majority of other players (I'm guessing these are role players), which could mean Chris Paul and other superstars just went ahead and decided for them. That's a terrible and borderline selfish move, so I don't fault Kyrie for speaking up and leading for those who felt disregarded. In fact, I kinda admire it. CP3 has proven to be quite self-interested in some of his decision-making as president, so I don't really trust him.

Then there's the report that Disney staff are not subject to the bubble protocols the NBA will put in place, and that they'll be free to come and go wherever they please. I'm sorry, but doesn't that DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF BEING IN A BUBBLE?? Even if the Disney staff will have limited contact with anyone from the NBA, that's still a huge risk considering COVID cases in Florida are rising through the roof right now.

Just cancel the damn season.

Yep this is pretty bad. My guess this whole thing ends up folding but we'll see.

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I doubt it.

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[thebigbird]

Kyrie is the leading force behind canceling a season he's not even going to play in. No one should care what he thinks in this situation.

Or, possibly, no one should care what you think in this situation.

Yea Kyrie is a douche's douche most of the time, but here he's sorta speaking up for the little guys. The ones that were considered not important enough to have a vote or say in this

Again, no one is forcing anyone to play. If the little guys don't want to play, the NBA has already said they can stay home. Don't ruin it for the guys who want to play.

[HotRocks34]

Remember when people discounted that Jabari Parker report not too long ago saying many players weren't thrilled with coming back? I guess that report wasn't so wrong after all.

I'm not usually a Kyrie fan, and I haven't yet read the Woj hit piece, but if he is speaking up for a number of players who felt that they had no voice in this process, then I agree with him.

And if you don't have an actual bubble because Disney staff are going in and out of the bubble (with cases possibly on the rise in Florida), how does this work?

Even the White House -- which has whatever testing it wants -- had staffers get sick and bring the virus into the building. If the NBA isn't testing every Disney staffer who comes in and out of the bubble every day, I'm not sure how they think they can control this.

[azcatz11]

Or, possibly, no one should care what you think in this situation.

Yea Kyrie is a douche's douche most of the time, but here he's sorta speaking up for the little guys. The ones that were considered not important enough to have a vote or say in this

Again, no one is forcing anyone to play. If the little guys don't want to play, the NBA has already said they can stay home. Don't ruin it for the guys who want to play.

Who are the 'little guys'? The guys not making a lot? Wouldn't they all want to play lol

[HotRocks34]

Also, some players are saying "we need to play so we can talk about issues going on now."

LeBron just started up his More Than A Vote thing (fight voter suppression in 2020), and he's not playing. You don't have to play to talk about or help with issues. It might help, but it's not necessary, IMO.

[Duke4life831]

Dont want to play because of Corona fear? I get that. Dont want to play because you feel like social/political activism is more important? Cool do your thing.

When it comes to not wanting to play because you might be viewed as just entertainers for the country. Ya dont care to hear this point of view. Your job is literally being an entertainer.

Still think there is a good chunk of these guys who are questioning playing because of the entire situation of the "bubble". Not because of optics or anything like that. But because they're filthy rich millionaires in their 20s and early 30s who want to go out and have fun (we all know what falls under this haha). Being locked up in a hotel room for 2.5 months probably doesnt sound appealing at all to many of these younger guys. But instead of saying that they're coming up with more "mature" reasons to say publicly.

Agreed and I honestly can't blame them. I feel like the players (rank and file) are way more educated and better with money than they've ever been and are fine with losing whatever % of salary they would lose in not finishing the season.

Everything is relative ya know

Ya to be clear, Im not hating on any player that doesnt want to play because of Corona, activism or because of the bubble. Im 29, if I was single and had made tens of millions of dollars so far in my life (presuming I didnt waste all my money haha). If I feel like Im on a team that probably wont win it all, how much money would I be getting if I went and played? Lets say a few hundred grand. Ya I wont lie, I wouldnt be shocked if I was saying to myself, "ya Id miss out on that money, especially with the new season starting up just a couple months after this anyways. Im going to have some fun, instead of being cooped up in a hotel room for a couple months."

Would it be the smartest move? Probably not, but like you said its all relative. Im sure a good amount of players want to play and get that check (a good amount haven't made hundreds or tens of millions of dollars). While a good chunk of players are weighing if 2 months locked up in Disney World is worth the check.

[thebigbird]

Yea Kyrie is a douche's douche most of the time, but here he's sorta speaking up for the little guys. The ones that were considered not important enough to have a vote or say in this

Again, no one is forcing anyone to play. If the little guys don't want to play, the NBA has already said they can stay home. Don't ruin it for the guys who want to play.

Who are the 'little guys'? The guys not making a lot? Wouldn't they all want to play lol

Prolly the dudes who are on teams that have no chance of winning. No way dudes on teams like the Bucks, Lakers, or Clippers don't want to play. They want a ring.

[RaptorsLife]

**** kyrie

Mf got his head so far up his ass and who is so bloated

Flat earthers are nut jobs

[StickeeFingaz]

Kyrie would be doing the "little guys" a disservice by recommending they cancel the season because in the future seasons, the "little guys" become even "littler guys".

[HotRocks34]

One more thing. I talked to a friend of mine today from Russia (yes, Russia!). She was like "things look so bad in your country right now."

If you are a player from overseas who has to come back in the next few days (June 15 reporting date, I think), do you really want to come back at this time? I'm wondering if that might factor into how some of these overseas players are thinking about things at the moment.

[Soulyss]

Kyrie is a clown, we all know how he's intimidated by large round spheres... EPCOTIS pretty Big...

Seriously tho..

I UNDERSTAND where these players are coming from both on the social justice side of the commentary as well as the family side of it. I suspect that they are fully aware that they don't get to continue to collect a paycheck if they have to stay home... That is their choice and frankly we should respect it if they decide that they decide that supporting family or social justice over continuation of the season is the right thing to do.

I also think that the Union did flub here by not putting this to a broader vote... I think there are somethings you can delegate to team reps, but this probably shouldn't be one.

Ultimately I suspect that this will amount to a nothing-burger... I could see a "set-guy" like Melo no-show, but I suspect he will be the exception and not the rule.

[azcatz11]

Again, no one is forcing anyone to play. If the little guys don't want to play, the NBA has already said they can stay home. Don't ruin it for the guys who want to play.

Who are the 'little guys'? The guys not making a lot? Wouldn't they all want to play lol

Prolly the dudes who are on teams that have no chance of winning. No way dudes on teams like the Bucks, Lakers, or Clippers don't want to play. They want a ring.

I was interpreting the 'little guys' as the guys not making crazy bank...maybe the guys making a couple million or less or who are fringe guys who this can really impact.

If Kyrie was one of those guys he'd probably be singing a different tune...and get off his high horse. No offense to Kyrie fans I like him also but it's just reality

[Ill News]

There's a couple of damning things about these recent reports. First of all, it appears the player's association didn't take into account the opinions of a majority of other players (I'm guessing these are role players), which could mean Chris Paul and other superstars just went ahead and decided for them. That's a terrible and borderline selfish move, so I don't fault Kyrie for speaking up and leading for those who felt disregarded. In fact, I kinda admire it. CP3 has proven to be quite self-interested in some of his decision-making as president, so I don't really trust him.

Then there's the report that Disney staff are not subject to the bubble protocols the NBA will put in place, and that they'll be free to come and go wherever they please. I'm sorry, but doesn't that DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF BEING IN A BUBBLE?? Even if the Disney staff will have limited contact with anyone from the NBA, that's still a huge risk considering COVID cases in Florida are rising through the roof right now.

Just cancel the damn season.

Yep this is pretty bad. My guess this whole thing ends up folding but we'll see.

Read on Twitter

I don't get it either, were they just hoping to slip this past everyone? Because it's a pretty big deal.

I'm guessing they'll still push through because if the superstars want to play, the league will just kowtow to them like they always do.

This is a tough decision for everyone involved, and I don't envy them for it. There are health, financial, and social implications to be weighed, and my head hurts just thinking about it.

[Dominator83]

Or, possibly, no one should care what you think in this situation.

Yea Kyrie is a douche's douche most of the time, but here he's sorta speaking up for the little guys. The ones that were considered not important enough to have a vote or say in this

Again, no one is forcing anyone to play. If the little guys don't want to play, the NBA has already said they can stay home. Don't ruin it for the guys who want to play.

Teams are going to be different from when the shutdown started. If some wanna play that's great. But call it the Covid cup and not the NBA championship. The value shouldn't be the same as a normal season.

[Duke4life831]

Ill tell you one thing, Kyrie aint the only player that doesnt want to play. A NBA player on a championship team gets 221k for the entire playoffs (an estimate as of 2017). Haha ya a good chunk of these guys are no doubt privately not wanting to be quarantined for a couple months for at best a 220k check.

You got a big chunk of NBA players that love their night life, you got a good chunk that like to get around (with the women), you got guys that have families that either dont want to be gone from their families or have their families stuck in a hotel for a couple months. 100-200k check aint going to be enough for a lot of these guys to give up all of that stuff for a couple months.

No way this happens with the so called bubble.

[thebigbird]

Ill tell you one thing, Kyrie aint the only player that doesnt want to play. A NBA player on a championship team gets 221k for the entire playoffs (an estimate as of 2017). Haha ya a good chunk of these guys are no doubt privately not wanting to be quarantined for a couple months for at best a 220k.

You got a big chunk of NBA players that love their night life, you got a good chunk that like to get around (with the women), you got guys that have families that either dont want to be gone from their families or have their families stuck in a hotel for a couple months. 100-200k check aint going to be enough for a lot of these guys to give up all of that stuff for a couple months.

No way this happens with the so called bubble.

How much do you think players would pay for a ring? Because that's what they're playing for, not the playoff bonus. If they don't want to play now then they better be prepared for the paycuts next year and beyond. If they didn't care about the money then they would be more willing to take less money to help the team. Not many stars are willing to do that.

[ejs78]

That's what i was thinking

Kyrie would be doing the "little guys" a disservice by recommending they cancel the season because in the future seasons, the "little guys" become even "littler guys".

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[Ball4life32]

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[MagicBagley18]

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I disagree with this. Just my opinion. I believe all the momentum to stop bigotry, racial profiling, social injustice And completely change a broken system would be benefited by having athletes, especially nba players voicing there opinions on a worldwide public platform and I don’t think the nba would stop them (nor should Adam silver or the nba).

I think it would be amazing to show the world that the Nba stands in solidarity with protestors and black lives matter. The nba has very intelligent players that need to be heard- seeing someone with so much power like lebron James on a nightly basis voicing his opinion or taking a knee would be a constant reminder to how far America needs to go.

There are several people in real life situations like working 2 jobs full time to make ends meet that are out on the front lines of the protests and still have to work and they don’t have nearly the platform or influence of an nba player/celebrity sadly.

Sadly we have so far to go as a society to make this work and inspire real change - I don’t think having an nba season would set that back or make players come across as not caring- use your platform, Speak your message,tell the world.

You ever hear of the Colosseum and do you know what it's true purpose was? There is a solid reason not to play.

You’re not comparing nba players who are allowed the option to not play and are paid millions of dollars to play in the sports entertainment world to the colosseum are you?