NBA board of directors sets policy to close loopholes
[Epoch Times, July 16, 2022](Epoch Times reporter Wang Yezhi comprehensive report) The NBA recently held its annual board of directors meeting. Shareholders and representatives of each team, as well as representatives of the players’ union gathered at the NBA headquarters. . The league’s president, Adam Silver, revealed that the NBA’s finances have increased significantly in the past year, exceeding $10 billion, a record high. In addition, the NBA has passed rule changes to fill the loopholes for fast break fouls. Durant’s “forcing the palace” has also become a topic of discussion.
NBA annual revenue exceeds 10 billion for the first time
In 2020, the new crown epidemic began to ravage the world, and sports events with large crowds were the first to be affected. Major U.S. sports leagues had to suspend one after another. French center Gobert, who just moved from the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves, is the first NBA player to be diagnosed with the new coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia). Subsequently, other players announced the diagnosis, and the NBA was suspended.
The lockout took a huge financial toll on the NBA. In October 2020, the NBA decided to resume games at Disneyland in Orlando, but without a live audience. The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship that season. The NBA also recovered $1 billion to $1.5 billion in revenue.
In the most recent year, the NBA’s annual revenue topped $10 billion for the first time, and basketball-related revenue reached $8.9 billion, both hitting record highs. This year’s playoffs, the Warriors have made $103 million in tickets before the Finals, and their average home finals ticket is as high as $3,249. This is just the Warriors’ ticket revenue, not including broadcast fees, merchandise and trademark sponsorships.
When talking about the current financial situation of the NBA, the league president, Silver, smiled, “The number really surprised me because it exceeded expectations. Especially from the situation of the last two and a half years, it is really very amazing.”
Silver sighed: “I have to thank the players for their hard work, and of course the staff who worked silently behind the scenes and the owners of each team. Let’s build the NBA into the world‘s top event together. The wages of our players are The tallest in the world, and the boss earns the most.”
One of the most frustrating things in the game of basketball is when a player is about to make a fast break layup after a good steal, only to be fouled on purpose to stop the game. That makes some great dunk shots disappear. In the past, for such fouls, the offensive team would only get one chance to serve the sideline. From a tactical point of view, this foul is understandable and can successfully prevent the opponent from scoring easily.
The league’s board of directors has passed new rules to close the loopholes in this rule. In the future, if the opponent “deliberately” fouls when the fast break is favorable, the attacker will get a free throw opportunity in addition to a sideline kick. However, the new rule does not apply in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Durant threatens to face restrictions
Recently, basketball star Durant “forced the palace” to apply for leaving the team, causing the free market to be full of storms and affecting many teams. Silver said that the league does not want to see players apply for trades in this way, and is working with Unions are discussing the matter, looking for remedies and pushing for more restrictions on the practice in the future. It is expected that there will be a “Durant clause” in the league next to limit or weaken the rights of superstars.
Silver believes that behind-the-scenes negotiations and free transfers are normal for the NBA. The NBA will not limit superstars to one team; Going by yourself is not the same thing as negotiating a deal or a transfer.
To this day, Durant’s trade plan remains a mystery, and no one knows where he will go. Half a month has passed since the opening of the free market, and the reinforcements of each team are almost complete. The team executives have all started vacations, and no new trade offers have been submitted to the Nets.
According to U.S. media reports, after Durant was put on the trade shelf, the Suns, Heat, Raptors and even the championship Warriors all reported interest in him, but the trade plan proposed by these teams moved the Nets. Because each team does not want to completely dismantle their own team for Durant’s sake, and their strength will not rise but decline.
With Durant’s trade value failing to live up to expectations, the Nets are now considering keeping him on the team, after all, he still has four years left on his contract. The Nets have not traded Irving away because of Durant. Once Durant stays on the team, Irving will stay by his side. In this case, the two can still lead the Nets to the championship together next season.
Responsible editor: Zheng Huang#