The mantra for most pro athletes is pay me first, worry about winning later. See Gilibert Arenas. It's not that there's anything wrong with that thinking. After all, self-preservation is the basic law of nature. It's just that, at times, a player can't always have both.
Why does everyone give Lebron a hard time? Tim Duncan makes tons of money. So it is not like he gave up his money to win. Tim had his cake and ate it to. Lebron should do the same.
Plus Lebron is coming off of his rookie scale contract. He has yet to be maxed out. Tim, is on his second "max" contract.
Duncan left 11 million on the table with this contract. He did 'give up' money, regardless of how much he makes.
He "gave up" money now, after he had already made a ton of money and won les. Lebron is coming off his rookie scale contract. What Duncan did is nice, but people act like he is a saint when it comes to business. He wanted and got his money. He just did not get over greedy.
LeBron James is a great player, but he is no Tim Duncan.
Before this kid retires he will get a ring. He wont be a Karl Malone or Charles Barkley.
I couldn't care less where Lebron ends up.
I have no problem with LeBron getting max money. His game, and the future potential he has, deserve it.
Duncan has always been a team player and as selfless as they come. I'm not calling him a saint, but he could have taken the max again and I don't think most of us would have thought less of him. He's still a max player, and taking less simply demonstrates, once again, the kind of ego he doesn't display.
LeBron wants to win, but we haven't seen what price he's willing to pay to do that. I guess we'll know in 2010.
Was Tim's first contract after his rookie contract a max deal?
I think so. I don't have it handy, I'll try to find it.
I don't know too much about the money side of the game. I'm sure someone here can answer better.
I think it was, I looked up his career salaries. That is all I am saying. Tim did get a full max contract when he could, so he did not leave money on the table to win at that point. He did it when he already was paid for his basketball worth and had won. He wants to keep getting les now so he knows he can leave some on the table to help him out as he closes out his career.
This is not a shot at Tim, but more so a realistic defense of Lebron bashing by most.
It was a max deal for 3 years with a player option for the 4th
In 2000 when Orlando tried to sign Duncan, yes, following contract was a max deal.
And, this $11 million he left on the table is a little exaggerated by some Duncan fans. He didn't sign an extension for the absolute maximum he could have made, but it was still basically a "max" amount. He's still getting paid among the top 5-10 highest paid NBA players even with the extension he took. And, he had already signed two max deals and made well over $100 million before leaving this $11 million on the table. It's not like Duncan decided to take the MLE for his extension.
So especially as it pertains to LeBron, it's not a fair criticism to point out how Duncan took "less" money to stay with the Spurs. Different situations, different points in their respective careers.
Thanks for the salary info guys.
He's maturing a little bit.
I know no one in here thinks we have a chance to sign lebron...i remember aikman restructuring his contract in order to keep players, i hope lebron never wins a ring...we need to go after bosh, save the jet fuel and don't bother courting the "chosen ego"
He already has his money, it's about winning only at this point. Correlating ego and money is a bit off as many older players who have egos take less money later in their years to win. As we know, that ego still remains. I'm not saying Tim has an ego, but your explanation doesn't seem right. Lebron could take less money now, but that doesn't mean his ego has shrunk, lets get real here.
She is saying that Tim could still get more money. She is right. What Tim did was fantastic (11M is still 11M no matter how much you make). We were just saying people bash Lebron and say he is all about the money, which is untrue. He is a max player and deserves it, especially because he has been so UNDERPAID on the rookie scale contract. It does not mean he does not care about winning.
It is funny, because to Lebron it is not all about the money in a round-about way. He is going to get max dollars no matter where he goes, so since the money is going to be the same (except if he leaves Cleveland because they can offer him the most), it will come down to where he can win as well.
Yeah, I understand that. But what i'm saying is that correlating money (or the sacrifice of it) with not displaying an ego with older players can be a bit of a stretch. Or even players in general. Even with those who demand max dollars in their thirties.
Why? Because players who are older sacrifice money for winning, that's what happens. Now there are others who do not, but that's an indication of choosing money over winning, not an issue on the ego of a player. Money isn't something always used to measure the ego of a person. Especially when they have alot already.
I agree to a certain extent, but usually players who sacrifice money to win are at the point where they can no longer demand max dollars. Lets see what Allen Iverson does.
Do you seriously praise Gilbert Arenas and think he was fantastic for taking $111 million instead of the $127 million the Wizards initially offered? He left more on the table than Duncan did. Does that make Gilbert Arenas a selfless, financial saint?
Taking less should only really be used as an example of unselfishness when it's significant. If Duncan signed a two year extension for the MLE, then that's something to talk about. He signed a two year extension for still over $33+ million. Duncan is great and all, but I really laugh when I hear the argument of how great and unselfish Duncan is for taking less money on his extension.
I love all the LeBron hate. I don't think he's coming, but if he signs, I'm going to need a change of undies because I'm going to spooge the ones I have on if I hear such an announcement.
Yes, he hasn't led a team to the promised land yet. Then again, the teams that Cleveland is throwing out there around him remind me of the DRob squads, pre-Duncan. He's only 23, and I would argue that Tim didn't lead the Spurs to a le until he was 27 (2003). Tim was a big part of 99, but still a follower and learner of the existing Spurs culture.
I laugh when people do not read what I say
Not "only" directed at you, and you're right, I didn't read the entire thread. However, there are plenty of other fans that do say what I criticized.
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