RealGM

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278794/Maverick-Carter-Advising-Investment-Group-Forming-Basketball-League-To-Rival-NBA


Get ready. Those guys can get the money to do this.

This is the biggest threat to the NBA.

A bit of competition might do them some good. Put a fire under their butts to get the product to a better place where people are enjoying it more. I don't mind current basketball, but the general sentiment is that this product has been boring/bad to watch.

It's hard to imagine a smaller minor league overtaking the NBA's reach, marketing, and influence. They'd have to throw serious money at players to even get them to consider another league, but I welcome the business competition for the NBA.

They can try, but they won't rival the NBA.

Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

SNPA wrote:Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

Because only a couple teams would sign the top players and it would be just completely uncompetitive?

It would hurt small markets.

This is just an excuse to get a tax write off for a failed business enterprise. Why not just take a stack of money and light it on fire? Seems like a similar exercise.

TheGeneral99 wrote:

SNPA wrote:Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

Because only a couple teams would sign the top players and it would be just completely uncompetitive?

It would hurt small markets.

There are no small markets in this league. This is a super league. The NBA becomes the minor league.

Nah, too much inertia to overcome.

How’s that high-paying Saudi league doing in football?

SNPA wrote:

TheGeneral99 wrote:

SNPA wrote:Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

Because only a couple teams would sign the top players and it would be just completely uncompetitive?

It would hurt small markets.

There are no small markets in this league. This is a super league. The NBA becomes the minor league.

How many teams are in this super league?

For those unable to click links…

6 men’s / 6 women’s.

8 cities around the global. Two week intervals.

The list of investors is legit. These guys can do this if they really want. LeBron seems already in via Maverick Carter.

I’ll ask again, why would a superstar play in a salary capped league when there is a chance to play for multiples the money, in fewer games and with more global fame? I’ll await an answer.

SNPA wrote:For those unable to click links…

6 men’s / 6 women’s.

8 cities around the global. Two week intervals.

The list of investors is legit. These guys can do this if they really want. LeBron seems already in via Maverick Carter.

I’ll ask again, why would a superstar play in a salary capped league when there is a chance to play for multiples the money, in fewer games and with more global fame? I’ll await an answer.

Because getting people to watch or care about other leagues has generally been a slow process, and that's the only way for the salaries to get higher than the NBA and stay that way.

SNPA wrote:For those unable to click links…

6 men’s / 6 women’s.

8 cities around the global. Two week intervals.

The list of investors is legit. These guys can do this if they really want. LeBron seems already in via Maverick Carter.

I’ll ask again, why would a superstar play in a salary capped league when there is a chance to play for multiples the money, in fewer games and with more global fame? I’ll await an answer.

There is no greater or more respected basketball league in the world than the NBA. FIBA is a strong league and has had some great teams, but it's not on the same level. This league, no matter the backing or the lack of financial restrictions, will be able to compete against the juggernaut that is the NBA in a head to head draw.

And, in my personal opinion, I don't see top tier talent in the NBA forgoing their careers to play in a smaller league regardless of the potential financial windfall unless they're at the end of their careers and contract free. While it's a good idea to see start up leagues in order to keep the main draws honest and kept in check, I just don't see this one creating a substantial footprint.

Your mileage may vary.

These guys are putting together 5 billion. To start six teams.

If you think players and *agents/agencies* won’t be interested in contracts well over 100m ok. I disagree. All they have to do is poach a few top players in the first couple seasons and this league takes off. James and thus Kutch is already involved.

Wemby can play for the Spurs for 50m or this league for 200m. It’s a real threat.

SNPA wrote:For those unable to click links…

6 men’s / 6 women’s.

8 cities around the global. Two week intervals.

The list of investors is legit. These guys can do this if they really want. LeBron seems already in via Maverick Carter.

I’ll ask again, why would a superstar play in a salary capped league when there is a chance to play for multiples the money, in fewer games and with more global fame? I’ll await an answer.

Same reason golfers stay in the PGA and don't move to LIV. Of course, some golfers did go to LIV.

Having the best players in 2 leagues is a loss for the fans, though.

SNPA wrote:Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

Well because the league with the salary cap - the NBA - has annual revenues of 11 billion dollars. Under this salary cap there are guys getting paid 40, 50, 60 million a year - soon 70, 80, 90 million.

What are the revenues of this imaginary league, exactly? Oh, zero dollars at the moment? But they are looking to raise 5 billion in capital... to get started. A lot of that will need to go to marketing. Each team is going to give out 100 million contracts to guys? So they're going to have 300 million dollar rosters? And they're going to manage to recoup that in revenue over 16 weeks?

Sounds like a great deal for the players - traveling for 16 straight weeks around the world for this league; so basically 4 months of never being at home? Sounds like quite a grind.

I'm sure a guy like Wembanyama will forego a five-year guaranteed NBA deal for a deal with a league that he can't be certain will even exist in its second year. Sounds like a great business decision.

jowglenn wrote:

SNPA wrote:Why would superstars play under a salary cap when there is a global league with no cap? Less games, more money and global fame.

Well because the league with the salary cap - the NBA - has annual revenues of 11 billion dollars. Under this salary cap there are guys getting paid 40, 50, 60 million a year - soon 70, 80, 90 million.

What are the revenues of this imaginary league, exactly? Oh, zero dollars at the moment? But they are looking to raise 5 billion in capital... to get started. A lot of that will need to go to marketing. Each team is going to give out 100 million contracts to guys? So they're going to have 300 million dollar rosters? And they're going to manage to recoup that in revenue over 16 weeks?

Sounds like a great deal for the players - traveling for 16 straight weeks around the world for this league; so basically 4 months of never being at home? Sounds like quite a grind.

I'm sure a guy like Wembanyama will forego a five-year guaranteed NBA deal for a deal with a league that he can't be certain will even exist in its second year. Sounds like a great business decision.

Traveling around the globe on the company dime sounds amazing. Think about all of those college kids who backpack across Europe on their own dime.

SNPA wrote:For those unable to click links…

6 men’s / 6 women’s.

8 cities around the global. Two week intervals.

The list of investors is legit. These guys can do this if they really want. LeBron seems already in via Maverick Carter.

I’ll ask again, why would a superstar play in a salary capped league when there is a chance to play for multiples the money, in fewer games and with more global fame? I’ll await an answer.

Because the fans are following the top league. With 5b you won't have a competitive league. Some people will watch the fake NBA but basketball fan will watch the top league. Why would anyone watch LeBron James + 4 g leaguer vs Steph Curry + 4 high schoolers

SNPA wrote:These guys are putting together 5 billion. To start six teams.

If you think players and *agents/agencies* won’t be interested in contracts well over 100m ok. I disagree. All they have to do is poach a few top players in the first couple seasons and this league takes off. James and thus Kutch is already involved.

Wemby can play for the Spurs for 50m or this league for 200m. It’s a real threat.

if this is even remotely true then for sure you will see some A -list stars jump over .

SNPA wrote:These guys are putting together 5 billion. To start six teams.

If you think players and *agents/agencies* won’t be interested in contracts well over 100m ok. I disagree. All they have to do is poach a few top players in the first couple seasons and this league takes off. James and thus Kutch is already involved.

Wemby can play for the Spurs for 50m or this league for 200m. It’s a real threat.

James is on the cusp of retirement. They're not getting Wembayama. This league isn't likely to be the threat you're making it out to be. A similar comparison would be what someone else mentioned: PGA vs LIV.

SkyBill40 wrote:

SNPA wrote:These guys are putting together 5 billion. To start six teams.

If you think players and *agents/agencies* won’t be interested in contracts well over 100m ok. I disagree. All they have to do is poach a few top players in the first couple seasons and this league takes off. James and thus Kutch is already involved.

Wemby can play for the Spurs for 50m or this league for 200m. It’s a real threat.

James is on the cusp of retirement. They're not getting Wembayama. This league isn't likely to be the threat you're making it out to be. A similar comparison would be what someone else mentioned: PGA vs LIV.

PGA/LIV was a more serious threat; there are no "teams" in Golf. You just need to poach individual golfers into your tour and host tournaments and voila. Basketball is a team sport - you need to assemble actual teams to play, and that takes at least a dozen players per team; you need to build brand and marketing for each team; you need to create contracts with each player, not just tournament prizes and individual "join this whole league" deals like in golf.