Lebron: Contraction " Would Be Great" For The NBA

Search

Professional At All Times
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
42,732
Tokens
PHOENIX -- This won't make LeBron James popular at the next player's union meeting, but Thursday he suggested the NBA would be more entertaining if there was contraction of teams.
In defending his decision to join up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat, James said the league was better when numerous teams had multiple stars. He said he hopes the league can return to that someday, because right now there isn't enough talent to support the 30 current teams.
"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."
In fact, James seemed to have a couple of ideas of which teams could go and some players that would make other teams better right now.
"[Contraction] is not my job; I'm a player but that is why it the league was so great," James said.
"Imagine if you could take Kevin Love off Minnesota and add him to another team and you shrink the [league]. Looking at some of the teams that aren't that great, you take Brook Lopez or you take Devin Harris off these teams that aren't that good right now and you add him to a team that could be really good. Not saying let's take New Jersey and let's take Minnesota out of the league. But hey, you guys are not stupid, I'm not stupid, it would be great for the league."
Perhaps that's a hint why James didn't seriously consider signing with the Nets last summer.
James spoke on the issue before taking on the Phoenix Suns, but much of the focus this week is on Saturday when the Heat are part of the Christmas Day main event against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
James said Wednesday he doesn't enjoy playing on Christmas even if it is the main attraction on the league's regular season schedule.
James said the Christmas game wouldn't be such a big deal if there were fewer teams like in the '80s.
"You had more [star] players on a team, which made almost every game anticipated, not just a Christmas Day game," James said. "I don't ever think it is bad for the league when guys decide they want to do some greatness for what we call a team sport."

Brian Windhorst covers the Miami Heat for ESPN.com
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
1,998
Tokens
I agree contraction would be great in almost all the major sports, except perhaps the NFL. I don't ever see it happening though. Player's union is just gonna love Lebron.
 

The Great Govenor of California
Joined
Feb 21, 2001
Messages
15,972
Tokens
Insider guys I know say contraction is inevitable. also they said lockout would be a long one. maybe even 2 years.
 

Self appointed RX World Champion Handicapper
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
15,052
Tokens
contraction would be awesome .. i've been saying it for many years now. although , take 6 or 8 teams out of the nba , the most likely 6 or 8 teams dont have but maybe 4 or 5 really good players to spread around .
 

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
321
Tokens
Maybe there could be a tier system like English soccer, where the top teams from tier B get promoted to tier A next season; and the bottom teams from tier A get demoted to tier B. Just a thought.
 

New member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
7,018
Tokens
Not a hockey guy but read stories about the original six being a backyard brawl.

Where have all the ole rivalry match ups gone?

Even baseball when there were two divisions and an unbalanced schedule those division rivalry's were intense.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,785
Messages
13,438,975
Members
99,339
Latest member
billcunninghamhomeloans
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com