The NBA is using this preseason to explore the concept of shorter games, but Lebron James and Dirk Nowitzki say it’s the length of the regular season that needs to be reviewed. Charlotte Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan was asked his thoughts on a shorter season and said he didn’t know there was a problem. He also noted that a shorter season would mean players make less money.
“I love both of those guys, but as an owner who played the game, I loved playing,” Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, told ESPN during a telephone interview. “If I wasn’t playing 82 games, I still would’ve been playing somewhere else because that’s the love for the game I had. As a player, I never thought 82 games was an issue.
“But if that’s what they want to do, we as owners and players can evaluate it and talk about it. But we’d make less money as partners. Are they ready to give up money to play fewer games? That’s the question, because you can’t make the same amount of money playing fewer games.”
Spoken like a true owner Mike…
MJ makes a very good point. Lebron and Dirk may be willing to take less money, but they also make nearly four times more than the average player. Would the guy at the end of the bench pulling in $500k be willing to give up some of that? I doubt it.
[ESPN]
