LeBron's Arrogance (Not to mention sexism)

[Neurotic Guy]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

[Spilling Green Dye]

I'm not sure what he said is all that self-centered, or even all that sexist. The NBA is a very physical sport, I have my doubts as to whether a woman could play rotation minutes in the NBA.

I viewed the 10 years comment more as him trying to put Stern's comment into a more immediate frame of mind. He was trying to picture himself playing against a woman basketball player.

TP, Bingo. I am always one of the first people to call out Lebron, but this time I don't see anything wrong with what he said.

BTW, the idea of a woman in the NBA within the next ten years is a laughably stupid notion.

Amen.  I opened this thread expecting to read some sort of self-centered Lebron quote... and as much as I dislike the guy, the OP is trying to make something out of nothing. 

I remember back in the 90's when the UCONN women's team played a scrimmage against their men-counterparts.  They walked away essentially saying "it wasn't even close.  The men's team is physically light years ahead of us." 

[Spilling Green Dye]

On another note, the only thing I take issue with is David Stern completely over-pushing the issue.  He should instead focus on the WNBA.

[oldmanspeaks]

As someone who has played basketball for nearly half a century with both men and women players, there is no way a woman can play at the NBA level. The problem is quickness, bulk and leaping ability. There are some excellent women shooters. Many years ago I used to play 1 on 1 with one of the top women college players. She could clean my clock because she had an incredible quick release and a superb shot. However even a poor athlete like me could score against her and we were the same height. Against even a top high school player she would have been defenseless. Other women (who weren't as great shooters) would have had even more problems scoring over the leaping men. Remember even the 6ft men are playing a foot about the rim.
Even after I got old, I saw the problems good women players have. There is a college point guard in my town. When she and I are on the same team, she scores time and time again because I can get her shooting hand free. However when she is on the other team, she gets totally stopped by any sort of half-ass double team because she can't get her shot off.

I will warn young guys though. They shouldn't get into a shooting contest with some woman until they see here play. There are some truly excellent shots around the country and you could easily lose some money to some no-account looking woman.

[ToppersBsktball10]

I'm sorry, this is not sexist at all and nothing to women as athlete's, but the NBA is WAY to athletic and at another level from any other league, there is no way this happens, probably ever, maybe to gain money but just don't see a girl competing at the NBA level. She'd get destroyed in all aspects, mainly because of athleticism, but IQ, the game is much different than the WNBA, and even shooting wise, doubt she could get her shot off. Far as the WNBA goes, I'm all for it, even a higher salary if possible.
Who knows though. As far as LeBron's comments, no big deal.

[Fafnir]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

My guess is that the price tag on Bionic Women will come way down:

[Toine43]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

Yeah that was kind of my point. I'm not saying I necessarily disagree with LeBron, but I don't get how time makes any kind of a difference. It just seemed to me that his logic was flawed: "If I'm still in the league, then there's no way  a woman could play. But in 20 years after some magical happening who knows..." I don't get that line of reasoning.

[nickagneta]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

No...but I never say never when it comes to changes in skill, society, technology or even evolution. Asked someone 60 years ago if women would have their own professional basketball league which millions of people would follow on television and people would have laughed at you.

Could a woman, born of two unbelievably athletic people be exposed to basketball at such a young age that she becomes so incredibly skilled that with her unreal athleticism make it to the NBA? I wouldn't rule it out. But I don't think girls have quite the exposure to basketball at the extremely young age that they would need to have as widespread as it will be decades from now to be able to find that gem to get exposed to it and trained to it young enough to get that good until then.

When you guys are missing it is that the woman that makes the NBA won't have size. They will be a woman version of Magic Johnson. 6-2, 6-3 PG with great athletic ability, quickness, ambidexterity, vision, passing skills and she will be a good NBA PG when she makes it

[Toine43]

 

I'm not sure what he said is all that self-centered, or even all that sexist. The NBA is a very physical sport, I have my doubts as to whether a woman could play rotation minutes in the NBA.

I viewed the 10 years comment more as him trying to put Stern's comment into a more immediate frame of mind. He was trying to picture himself playing against a woman basketball player.

TP, Bingo. I am always one of the first people to call out Lebron, but this time I don't see anything wrong with what he said.

BTW, the idea of a woman in the NBA within the next ten years is a laughably stupid notion.

Amen.  I opened this thread expecting to read some sort of self-centered Lebron quote... and as much as I dislike the guy, the OP is trying to make something out of nothing. 

I remember back in the 90's when the UCONN women's team played a scrimmage against their men-counterparts.  They walked away essentially saying "it wasn't even close.  The men's team is physically light years ahead of us." 

I know he's not being blatantly egotistical, but I just found it funny that when asked about the topic he immediately jumped to the notion of a woman playing soon being unrealistic because he would still be in the league. I bet if asked the same question 95% of other NBA players just say something like, "Hey if a woman proves she can play with us then why not. All the power to her."

[Toine43]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

No...but I never say never when it comes to changes in skill, society, technology or even evolution. Asked someone 60 years ago if women would have their own professional basketball league which millions of people would follow on television and people would have laughed at you.

Could a woman, born of two unbelievably athletic people be exposed to basketball at such a young age that she becomes so incredibly skilled that with her unreal athleticism make it to the NBA? I wouldn't rule it out. But I don't think girls have quite the exposure to basketball at the extremely young age that they would need to have as widespread as it will be decades from now to be able to find that gem to get exposed to it and trained to it young enough to get that good until then.

When you guys are missing it is that the woman that makes the NBA won't have size. They will be a woman version of Magic Johnson. 6-2, 6-3 PG with great athletic ability, quickness, ambidexterity, vision, passing skills and she will be a good NBA PG when she makes it

There's no question in my mind that that's the type of player a woman in the NBA would be. I just think you're underestimating the rate that our society is evolving these days. I don't see why this type of female player couldn't surface in the near future.

[GreenFaith1819]

I hate LeBron but honestly, in this case, I can't say as I disagree with him. $0-50 years from now....maybe. Ten years from now. No way. Won't happen.

That's a strange comment to me Nick.  What is going to happen to women 40-50 years from now that couldn't happen in 10 years.   Are you expecting some form of superwoman emerging then that couldn't exist now.  It seems just as likely that a 10 year old right now might have that extraordinary mix of skill, strength and coaching as it would be that such a female will be born 30 years from now.  

No...but I never say never when it comes to changes in skill, society, technology or even evolution. Asked someone 60 years ago if women would have their own professional basketball league which millions of people would follow on television and people would have laughed at you.

Could a woman, born of two unbelievably athletic people be exposed to basketball at such a young age that she becomes so incredibly skilled that with her unreal athleticism make it to the NBA? I wouldn't rule it out. But I don't think girls have quite the exposure to basketball at the extremely young age that they would need to have as widespread as it will be decades from now to be able to find that gem to get exposed to it and trained to it young enough to get that good until then.

When you guys are missing it is that the woman that makes the NBA won't have size. They will be a woman version of Magic Johnson. 6-2, 6-3 PG with great athletic ability, quickness, ambidexterity, vision, passing skills and she will be a good NBA PG when she makes it

There's no question in my mind that that's the type of player a woman in the NBA would be. I just think you're underestimating the rate that our society is evolving these days. I don't see why this type of female player couldn't surface in the near future.

Britney Griner from Baylor..I'm telling you all you better watch her..6'8" version of Candace Parker.

[fairweatherfan]

Another problem with the 10 year figure is she'd have to be at least 12 today (I don't think the first female to make the league comes out early).  She'd almost certainly be extraordinarily good by now, and probably good enough to have people talking about her already.

[Truck Lewis]

I've always wondered if Candace Parker could carve out a spot in the NBA.  The bigger ball would certainly be an obstacle.

zero chance

[rondohondo]

I don't think Lebron is being sexist with these comments he is being a realist. However he has acted like a total tool tonight dancing all over the floor and acting like his normal arrogant toolish self. I really cant stand the guy , I was hoping Noah would have popped him in the chin when he came over to the bulls bench like a fake tough guy. I really wanna see someone rough him up this year . What a edit

that one's on the list of no-no words (even if misspelled)- redz

[PosImpos]

Imagine a female player going up for a layup, gets fouled hard.  That just...seems wrong somehow. 

I don't want to be sexist but I just don't see how it would work, unless as other posters have said the female player had been playing with men all her life.

I think the problem isn't so much that it's not possible for a female player to ever be good enough to play in the NBA - I think that's definitely not the case.  But until it becomes normal for males and females to play sports together from a young age and up, you won't see females playing in men's professional sports.  Again, not so much because of talent but because of the logistical and social issues that might come up among players and fans alike as a result of a woman playing with men.