Should G League players boycott FIBA World Cup qualifying?
Minor league players for the NBA will never have leverage like this again, but how they utilize it will be key.
Before the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup, FIBA made the decision to change the qualifying months for the tournament from the summer to the winter. This decision meant in all likelihood that NBA players would not be available to represent the United States due to conflicts with the NBA regular season
What was the next alternative for USA Basketball? G League players. In early May it was announced USA Basketball would look to the minor league for its qualifying players. While it is a great opportunity for these players — representing their country on quite possibly the greatest stage of their career — this might be the one opportunity for G League athletes have a seat at the table.
Other than those on two-way contracts, G League players are saddled with salaries ranging from $19,000 — $26,000. Those numbers have not increased for a number of years, and it wasn’t until the 2016–17 season the NBA eliminated its lowest salary tier ($13,000) from its ranks.
This could be the one time those players stand up for themselves and demand increased pay for their contracts. Clearly USA Basketball values these players and see them as the next best thing to NBA talent, shouldn’t they be compensated as such? G League athletes should boycott representing USA Basketball until they see a salary increase in the very near future. They will never have this kind of leverage on their side moving forward. They could stand up for themselves and demand proper wages for their appropriate talent.
G League salaries are some of the lowest in comparison to international countries, which is saying something knowing the richest basketball organization in the world owns and operates the league.
This type of precedent exists, as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and other NBA superstars stood up for themselves at the 1964 All-Star game and demanded the ability to form a union otherwise they would not compete. Needless to say, their demands were met and the game went on as scheduled.
Do G League players have the same clout as Jerry West? Certainly not, but they won’t have this platform again.
And I can already anticipate the counter argument, it should be an honor to represent your country on the highest stage and these players should be grateful for such an opportunity. They should put their country first, you can’t put a dollar amount on patriotism. Yes, they should feel grateful for such an opportunity. However, this is the same, tired formula the NBA uses to maintain low salaries in the G League.
The NBA hammers home the level of exposure players are offered in the G League, being scouted by NBA teams on a nightly basis while developing in an NBA system. For a vast majority of these players, the NBA is not a realistic option and they should reap the financial rewards of playing in a league the NBA itself considers the second-best league in the world, but refuses to compensate its players as such.
And let’s not forget, these players will only be a part of the qualifying rounds. They won’t actually compete in the FIBA tournament in 2019. They will be like the students who do the most work on a group project in high school, but get zero credit. If they are involved in the qualifying, shouldn’t they see the tournament the whole way through? I’m sure a few NBA executives wouldn’t mind seeing their players removed from the equation entirely due to fear of another gruesome Paul George-like injury.
Should USA Basketball opt to not use G League players, they have considered using American players already overseas for use in the FIBA qualifying rounds. Whatever route they choose, it will be a win-win situation for G League athletes.
Let’s be realistic, a boycott on this level would require tremendous coordination from all parties who refused to work until conditions improved for G League players. I’m a realist and I don’t think it will happen for fear of repercussions from the league for those players, but they should have the right to protest.
Put yourself in their shoes. Players sacrifice a more lucrative salary to play in the G League, and are told how important they are but aren’t given the financial compensation for it. Then, they are asked to work even more because of how talented they are, yet they will reap no reward from the work provided.
A boycott would put the onus on the NBA. Either acknowledge their shortcomings and admit salaries should increase sooner rather than later, or ignore their boycott and refuse to admit being complicit in keeping salaries low.
Yes, there is something to be said about representing your country that you can’t put a price on, but that’s the crux of the argument here. This is another attempt to exploit these players who are grossly underpaid and deserve long overdue pay raises.
Just as it is an honor to represent one’s country on any stage, it’s also a part of democracy and freedom the right to protest any cause worth fighting for, and it’s time players stood up for themselves and let their voices be heard that salaries must increase sooner rather than later.
