How NBA Players Should Handle the Lockout

Players like Anthony, Rose, Bryant and James should play
somewhere, but where?

The NFL lockout sent chills down fans' spines as they pondered what they would do on a Sunday afternoon without football. Thankfully the league worked out a deal just in time and on September 8th the NFL season will get under way and it promises to be a great year. NBA fans don't have that comfort yet as the two sides do battle this offseason. Some players say they are optimistic that the season will be played as planned but others seem unsure. After such an electric 2010-2011 season the NBA would be making a HUGE mistake if they couldn't come to an agreement. However, the players seem to be set on playing this year even if that means going overseas. Wilson Chandler was the most recent player to ink a deal with a club overseas and Deron Williams is the biggest name to have signed. Much has been made about whether players should play for another team and it is a risky move but this is their job. Who wants to be laid off for a year?

If the NBA players were to go play somewhere else for the year they would obviously put themselves at risk of injury which could damage their NBA career. The organizations can't be too keen about their players going to play for another organization, but I am on the players' side about this. However, here is what I would love to see happen: led by Kobe Bryant, the 2012 U.S. Olympic team should barnstorm around the world playing teams. I had heard a rumor about this a while back but it seems to be far from true. Yet, I can't help but think how amazing and beneficial this would be. If the European or Chinese teams paid Team NBA a decent sum of money they could split that evenly and the teams overseas would benefit because their arenas would be filled to capacity every night the NBA players took the court. It would be like the Harlem Globetrotters and if ESPN put the games on tape delay during primetime here in the States fans would still tune in.

For those who aren't a part of the that squad they can make their own team and do the same thing. The main thing is, and this shouldn't be hard for players to do, is to find competition. They can't find anything close to the NBA but the European game does offer some good ball and that's all fans really want, the chance to see their favorite players play. Whether that be in America or Europe, they deserve that. Do I think my idea will happen? No, but it would be great if it did. I doubt we will see the biggest names, like Kobe, LeBron and DRose, sign with another team. Instead I think it will be a year of working out and playing structured pickup ball with other stars.

This is all worst-case scenario though because the owners and players must work out their differences. After the Jordan-era the NBA sort of fell on rough times. Last year was fantastic to watch as the young stars emerged and the competition was fierce. It should just be the beginning though, and a year off would hinder that rise in popularity from happening. The NBA has become relevant again and it can't afford to miss a year. The NFL figured it out and now it's time for the NBA to as well.