Woj: Some Players getting cold feet about playing in Orlando

[G R E Y]

^ That said, that this wasn't taken to a full vote of every player is sketchy. I wonder if there was concern among the top players that the vote would be closer and the optics worse?

[Rich Rane]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

Nah man, Kyrie needs to get the players to shut the up and dribble. Too much protesting going on. Need basketball as a distraction.

[infinite11285]

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But he’s doing nothing. He hasn’t forked up a single penny to any social cause, and hasn’t taken any kind of action toward reforming a single institution.

This doesn’t make any sense...

[themoneyteam2]

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[LoveMyRaps]

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LOL yeah season is definitely not getting cancelled.

[JB2]

Players are going to refuse to play the game they love that also brings people together? Wear shirts, take a knee, be outspoken, etc etc but why refuse to play basketball?

I'm curious to hear his perspective...

[thebigbird]

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What does this mean lol

How tf did he get elected VP? Dude talks in riddles.

[RTran85]

Kyrie is a fraud

[K For Three]

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But he’s doing nothing. He hasn’t forked up a single penny to any social cause, and hasn’t taken any kind of action toward reforming a single institution.

This doesn’t make any sense...

He sounds upset. He's an emotional guy. He lost people close to him recently and is in a hard hit area of covid too in NY. The black community has been hit hard with the virus and with unemployment and many just do not care.

I don't know if he can organize anything substantial here, but he is famous enough that I hope he can and isn't just called crazy.

[K For Three]

Players are going to refuse to play the game they love that also brings people together? Wear shirts, take a knee, be outspoken, etc etc but why refuse to play basketball?

I'm curious to hear his perspective...

Tough to say, did ever wearing shirts or taking a knee get them far before? They got shunned for peaceful protesting by even the President.

[MagicBagley18]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

There absolutely needs to be changes in society. America has turned there back and closed there eyes to police brutality, social injustices and ignored very real racism for far too long. There’s absolutely no debate about that from anyone with any sort of rational, compassion, intelligence or morality.

The disconnect Is - how does that have anything to do with the nba playing basketball? these are issues that need gigantic leaps to happen and now in America there is real momentum in a positive way but how does him coming back to his profession put those things on hold? He’s not even playing.

The whole “20 of us make money comment” does he mean real max money? like a player making 1,2,3-10 million isn’t real money? there’s people out on the front lines of protests working 2 full time jobs to make ends meet and still finding a way to get the message across.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t use the global platform of the nba to echo that black lives matter.

[infinite11285]

^ That said, that this wasn't taken to a full vote of every player is sketchy. I wonder if there was concern among the top players that the vote would be closer and the optics worse?

Not voting is moot. What’s the endgame here? Say the season is canceled—does it resume in the Fall when COVID spikes again? Should every season be canceled until COVID is eradicated?

Kyrie’s willing to die on a hill until “systemic racism” is gone; but, what does that mean? It’s like he’s holding the NBA hostage for not being able to fix issues well outside of the league’s scope. I’m all for standing up for social reforms, when warranted, but again, what’s the endgame here? Kyrie is just yelling for change while lacking a strategy, plan, and action.

[Infinite Llamas]

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This guy...

“I’m willing to” is a lazy way of saying anything. “I’m going to” is a far better indicator of one saying that they’re ready to fight for something. There was a Chinese millionaire who gave up everything to become a Buddhist monk. Kyrie has always clung to the notion of words having more impact that actions (he talks...a lot) so let’s see how this one plays out.

[Duke4life831]

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.

It's about much more than just the money involved for the few games. If the season gets shafted because of this, the owners and league will do what's best for them which will end up in the entire CBA being scrapped (which they absolutely can do given the circumstances) and the existing contracts will not be honored. The players won't have a leg to stand on, either. It's not like the league created Covid. They're trying to make this work as much as anyone else.

Furthermore, the idea of Kyrie trying to spout some massive racial divide platform in the NBA is about as tone death as you can get (typical Kyrie). Out of all the USA leagues, hoops leads the way in racial diversity and it's not close. Furthermore, they have a commissioner known to foster participation from all owners and players alike. This is a far cry from dealing with the likes of Trumpism or the Minneapolis Police.

If there are legit concerns from players, that's all well and good and they should voice those concerns. But, there is no version of this where it's helpful to have the Almighty Disruptor KI as the guy leading the effort. This dude consistently is so far removed from reality, it's frankly a head scratcher that other players thought it was smart to elect him as their NBPA Exec Committee VP.

I never claimed the players to be great at long term thinking haha.

[MagicBagley18]

“Only 20 of us getting paid” in a league where the minimum is about one million dollars......come on man

[bondom34]

Not gonna lie, I am pretty far left myself and I am totally on board with what he means. I feel the same thing all the time too.

We do need changes.

IF he is genuine about this, he can't stop but has to stick to his word and try to help make change as a celebrity.

I tend to think they might get a better stage for their cause by playing on TV in front of millions.

That said between concerns over COVID and now this I can't do anything but support and respect it.

Respect to Kyrie...even if it pains me to really take his side .

[Duke4life831]

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Cool and no one is stopping you Kyrie. If other players want to go play, they can go play while you "give up everything" (we all know he will be there at the start of the next season).

Side note, some of the replies to that tweet are hilarious.

[SmartWentCrazy]

If the season is cancelled and the owners rip up the CBA, I’m guessing we dont see basketball again until the 2021 season. I cant imagine that owners will open up shop if they cant fill their arena due to covid related restrictions.

[infinite11285]

“I demand the NBA to fix the worlds problems, or I’ll never play again” -Kyrie Irving, 2020

Can’t make this up.

[MagicBagley18]

Of course the nba wants to come back and recoup money. Just like the players want to get money and be paid. This is huge business- it’s always about money. Always.