The new NBA 2K League took center stage on Wednesday as the effort held its inaugural draft. Kofie Yeboah broke all of that down and explained the 2K League at length.
One item that caused commotion on the Basketball Internet was widespread realization that this will actually be a job ... with a $32-35,000 salary for these eSports athletes. In fact, one cause of concern was that 2K League players will earn more than most NBA G League players. You know, guys who are actually playing basketball, not playing a video game representing basketball.
You’ll find full agreement here that G League salaries need to be higher to support the hardscrabble reality of life on the hoops fringe in America. G League salaries ought to be higher, full stop. But that has nothing to do with the 2K League, which will sell its own sponsorships based on its own viewership and fan base. These players need to be compensated for their work and time, too! Don’t begrudge professional 2K players their relatively modest salaries, which equate to about 50 percent of the American median household income. Argue instead for better wages for all who work on behalf of multi-billion dollar corporations.
Like, uh, the best women’s basketball players in the world. Check out WNBA salaries. The minimum salary for WNBA players this season according to that league’s collective bargaining agreement will be $41,000, substantially less than the median U.S. household income. The maximum WNBA salary — that is, the most the best women’s basketball players in the world can earn from the top women’s basketball league in the world — is $115,500. That’s why top players like Maya Moore spend just about every offseason playing club basketball overseas. Unlike even average NBA players, WNBA stars aren’t racking up enough riches to set themselves up for the inevitable ends of their careers. They need to maximize earnings while they can.
G League players should make more money. NBA 2K League should make more money. WNBA stars should definitely make more money. Fight together or not at all.
Playoff Picture Update
Oh no, the Spurs got Kuzma’d.
Scores Galore ...
PHI 115, DET 108
DAL 100, ORL 105
MIA 115, ATL 86
BOS 78, TOR 96
MEM 95, NOP 123
SAS 112, LAL 122 (OT)
... And So Much More
Mammoth, awesome feature on Dwyane Wade — back home in Miami — from Seerat Sohi.
The last time the Spurs failed to win 50 games in an 82-game season, Hanson and the Spice Girls ruled the world. Mmm ... Pop.
The WNBA Draft is a week away. Here’s an updated big board from Howard Megal after the news that Azura Stevens will leave UConn a year early. This is shaping up to be a phenomenal class.
Until Earl Watson got canned in October, we hadn’t had a coaching vacancy in the NBA in more than a year. Those floodgates are quite likely about to open.
Walter “Waltah” McCarty, now the head coach at Evansville, has some stories about his time in the pros and on Brad Stevens’ bench.
Magic vs. Mavericks was 100 percent despicable tanking ... that falls well within NBA rules and follows logically from the league’s incentive structure. Both teams rested their most decent players. I mean, look at this box score. Now look at the crunch time line-ups in a close game. This is egregious. And there’s really nothing the NBA can or will do that would dissuade either coach from doing the same dang thing again. This is Ryan Gomes, Rookie Klay, Mark Madsen level tanking.
An ad played during a potential Josh Hart game-winner. Whoops!
O.J. Mayo has signed with a Puerto Rican club in hopes of rejoining the NBA when his suspension ends this summer. Good luck, Juice.
And finally: Drake and Doris Burke share a moment.
Be excellent to each other.