COLUMN: NBA season is the best Christmas present
The NBA is back — finally.
For the first time in what seems like forever, good news came out of the NBA camp.
After weeks and months of negotiating, it seemed that the players and owners were never going to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. Then, to the surprise of all, it was announced Saturday, Nov. 26, that the players and owners had reached a tentative deal for a shortened season beginning on Christmas.
Training camp will start Dec. 9 in preparation for the season opener, which will occur on Christmas. Teams will play 66 games as opposed to the regular 82.
For those involved with the NBA it’s finally a breath of fresh air. Only a week ago it seemed as if the prospect of both sides reaching an agreement was impossible. Antitrust lawsuits against the lockout had been filed by the NBA players, while the NBA owners had filed their own lawsuit claiming that the lockout was legal. Players had started playing overseas and things looked to keep going downhill.
Now those lawsuits are a thing of the not-so-distant past and the players and owners are ready to play some ball.
Fortunately, in the end, common sense prevailed from both sides of the table. Both the owners and players realized that the way they were headed was not going to get them where they ultimately wanted to be. It was a never-ending stalemate that was proving detrimental to both sides.
Now, the NBA and its players have taken the appropriate steps to get things back to where they were at the end of last season and keep the NBA on the rise. While they may have lost a few of the bandwagon fans, the majority are going to forgive and forget, and in the long run the NBA will pick up more fans than it lost.
Not only is the CBA more balanced for the players and owners but it also has taken into account the importance of parity, and especially the importance of competitive small-market teams. For fans here in Utah that’s a very good sign. Salt Lake is one of the smallest markets in the NBA and will greatly benefit from the new changes. Other small-market teams will see the same positive results.
If teams are competitive, then the fans will show up, usually — for exceptions see Tampa Bay Rays. The new CBA is going to allow for a more balanced league and more competitive teams. It’s going to attract more fans.
The layoff also has most certainly helped the veterans and is going to allow them to come back more rested and more likely to make it through all 66 games. For players like Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and others, this is definitely going to allow them to play at a higher level throughout the season.
Stars playing at their highest level attract fans. The NBA is definitely going to benefit from the increased output of its aging stars.
Also starting the season on Christmas Day is going to give the NBA a grand opening of sorts. Instead of the usual start of the season that’s mired between the NFL and college football, they’ll now be starting at the tailend of the NFL and right as college football is finishing up.
It’s going to allow them to take center stage and showcase themselves on opening day, which they’re not able to do in a typical NBA season. The fans are going to come and see it.
In the end it’s all going to be all right for the NBA. This lockout is not going to be as detrimental as 1998-99. The NBA isn’t going to wait until February to start. It’s not going to have to get a new identity and find a new face as it did when Michael Jordan retired.
The NBA has a plethora of stars that are in the prime of their careers and are going to bring in more fans than ever before.
Thanks to the players and owners for proving us doubters wrong.
It’s time for the NBA and amazing to happen once again.
– Spencer is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. He supports Manchester United and hopes to live long enough to watch the Cubs win a World Series. Send any comments to eliason.wright3@aggiemail.usu.edu.