In America, we have three popular professional sports which are football, basketball and baseball. The most popular of the three without a doubt is football. Does anyone know why? Because in football, every team has an equal opportunity to win a championship each year. You can’t really buy a championship like in the other two sports.
In the NBA, they have a set salary cap and after you reach that particular figure, you are charged a luxury tax. Luxury tax is being taxed one dollar for every dollar you are over the salary cap. For example, if the Miami Heat are 5 million dollars over the salary cap, the NBA charges them a luxury tax of 5 million. Now, under the new CBA, teams pay an incremental tax that increases with every $5 million they go above the salary cap/tax threshold ($1.50, $1.75, $2.50, $3.25, etc.). Teams that have been paying luxury tax for at least four out of the past five seasons have a tax that is $1 more at each increment than the increments mentioned above ($2.50, $2.75, $3.50, $4.25, etc.). After understanding the salary cap and luxury tax, you can come to the understanding that owners with the most money have no problem going over the salary cap in order to win.
In the last 30 years, the same nine teams have won championships in the NBA. That is the biggest difference from NFL and NBA. Most markets feel like their team has some type of chance to win in the NFL. Last week, Dwight Howard signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, making them a favorite again to win the championship next year. There are only about 4 teams in the league that have a realistic chance of winning a championship next year (LA, MIA, OKC and BOS).
To increase the level of competition in the NBA, I believe there should be a hard salary cap that NO TEAM can go over. By making each team have the same salary cap, you put all cities on the same playing field. This would put an end to the SUPER TEAMS we have seen develop in the last 5 years due to teams not being able to pay these stars and put a supporting cast around them. This cap would make teams like Golden State, Sacramento, and Charlotte relevant, because the stars would spread out more in order to receive a max deal. You would still have role players taking less money to play with stars, but you wouldn’t have stars taking less money to play with other stars.
If the NBA doesn’t incorporate a hard salary cap soon, they can just get rid of fifty percent of the teams and create 14 SUPER TEAMS. I feel like a Republican right now, getting rid of jobs. MESSAGE!
In conclusion, if the NBA wants to keep doing what they are doing, I will be fine. You ask me why? I roll with the boys in PURPLE AND GOLD.
Brandon McConnell of “Respect Da Game”, for War Room Sports
Tags: All's Fair in Sports and War, Boston Celtics, Brandon McConnell, Los Angeles Lakers, Luxury Tax, Miami Heat, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, Respect Da Game, Salary Cap, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, War Room Sports
Very true and it has been this way for years. Every since you and I have been watching the game of basketball at least 2 of those 4 teams you mentioned were running things back then. I feel like some of the owners need to go. Some are flat out cheap. I know to win you need to invest. To invest, you cant be scared to loose money. Heck how will you win money and that brings Championships.
Great Job!!!