Do you like how strict the NBA is with their athletes?

[ponder276]

I'm not talking about on-court stuff, but off-court indiscretions (smoking weed, speeding, getting into fights, etc.). Do you agree with how hard the NBA comes down on basketball players for actions which are completely unrelated to basketball.

[theTHIEF]

no, they should tighten the reigns even more in some areas...

[CzBoobie]

Poor multi-millionaire athletes...

[Blame Rasho]

no, they should tighten the reigns even more in some areas...

I agree...

[Nolan]

I'm not talking about on-court stuff, but off-court indiscretions (smoking weed, speeding, getting into fights, etc.). Do you agree with how hard the NBA comes down on basketball players for actions which are completely unrelated to basketball.

Yes I do agree with the NBA, these guys are role models and they are the face of the league. When they act like douchbags they make the entire league look bad.

[GuyverX]

When you're making millions of dollars for a company that relies on both your physical and mental well-being to produce, you better use your head on and off the court. Being a well paid pro athlete is mind blowing privilege, and they should live their lives that way. If you want to go motor bike racing or skydiving or get baked on weekends, you have all the time and money in the world--after you're retired and out of the league.

While under contract with the NBA, you are their property. As a player, everything you do that comes under scrutiny of the public eye impacts the value of the product. That's why they have clauses in contracts for dangerous or risky behavior that could potentially hurt the franchise. If they don't like it, they can just play for fun at the local park. There are millions of players who are ready and willing to take their spot.

[Milkdud]

Im with thief, an employer asking their employees to refrain from drugs and other illegal actives OMG.

[hoops4life]

Could be worse... they could be more like the NFL.

I again with the above.

[thaAteam]

what kinda question is this, if your a millionaire is doing the right thing so hard? ofcourse the nba should raise the hammer for this crap, any average employee would be get for smoking weed not just fined or suspended, whats 20 grand when u make a million a year, i make 70,000 a year and if i get caught with weed at a company event, i get fined 70,000 cuz i would no longer have a job

[Milkdud]

I honestly would like to see someone make a legitimate argument that the NBA is to harsh. Currently the only argument I've seen has been "pots not a big deal" which really isn't much of an argument IMO.

[Flash3]

What kind of questions this is definitely right!

You're working for a billion $ business venture, getting paid millions. You are going to have HIGH standards to live/work by, if you expect to continue working for them.

I don't get the big deal with the way things are run in the NBA, any other fortune 500 company probably has similar rules in place.

[Dtown84]

I think pot isn't a big deal, but I don't expect any company to overlook doing it. Really compared to the No Fun League, The NBA's pretty lenient.

That said just being an athlete shouldn't make you a role model, parents should teach their kids higher standards than that. (note: not to be confused with no athletes are role models, there are plenty but it's because what they do off the court)

[High 5]

These rules and punishments aren't a ton different than what most employees have. When millions of dollars are at stake, the NBA could stand to be more strict.

[Promezclan]

The role model argument is a bit silly in a lot of situations. If the NBA hadn't come down so hard on Arthur et al, nobody would even KNOW about it, so how could that influence kids to copy them? Even in other public situations, how many kids would say, "Well, Michael Vick is getting 6 years in prison and everybody hates him, but the league didn't suspend him, so clearly dog fighting is a good thing to do, and I'm going to start right now!"?
Having contractual obligations for athletes not to engage in dangerous physical activities is just common sense, though.

[High 5]

The role model argument is a bit silly in a lot of situations. If the NBA hadn't come down so hard on Arthur et al, nobody would even KNOW about it, so how could that influence kids to copy them? Even in other public situations, how many kids would say, "Well, Michael Vick is getting 6 years in prison and everybody hates him, but the league didn't suspend him, so clearly dog fighting is a good thing to do, and I'm going to start right now!"?
Having contractual obligations for athletes not to engage in dangerous physical activities is just common sense, though.

That Vick example didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but athletes do influence people. Kids these million dollar athletes who smoke weed, drink and drive, take steroids, etc. and think "why shouldn't I?" It may be stupid, it may be the parents job to teach wrong from right, but it's true.

[RapsGM]

I love how strict the NBA is with their players. Of course like many said before them some areas could be tightened. But overall they have done a very commendable job.

[Milkdud]

I've never felt the "players are role models" holds much weight. To me the overall issue is NBA players are employees.

[Hangtime84]

I think pot isn't a big deal, but I don't expect any company to overlook doing it. Really compared to the No Fun League, The NBA's pretty lenient.

That said just being an athlete shouldn't make you a role model, parents should teach their kids higher standards than that. (note: not to be confused with no athletes are role models, there are plenty but it's because what they do off the court)

I agree parents must raise their kids and teach them right from wrong. However, it takes a village to raise a kid. And a person environment as some influences in a persons development.

Being a professional sports athlete you become a role model if you like it or not. Their actions influence kids. It doesn't matter if YOU think pot isn't big deal or not. It's the LAW and being a citizen of a country you must obey these rules.

Company's do care if a employee indulges in drug use. That's why we have drug tests for jobs.

[RockTHECasbah]

The NBA is an employer, imagine if you went to work for some company like GoldmanSachs, dressed like a bum

[Teen Girl Squad]

I think it might be borderline too harsh with the dress code(though not that bad) but a necessary evil. As unfair as it is the NBA is the stereotypical thug league while the NFL isnt. Obviously the past few years suggest otherwise but over time the idea is to change that stereotype so people will tune in.