Like in all sports, the NBA is always evolving. The game has changed over the years on the floor, as well as, in the structure and business behind it.
The NBA is a “players' league” and they hold a lot of power. They make trade demands, leave in free agency, team up with other superstars, and many make more money than the coaches and GMs.
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson was very competitive and passionate throughout his career and is now an analyst on ESPN. This is his perspective on players in the NBA today:
“I would be the first to say these guys these days, they're spoiled. A lot of them are spoiled...
"And I was talking to a Hall of Fame football coach, and he said one thing he sees about basketball from the outside looking in, more players today are interested in what the game can do for them. They don't actually love the game like we did.
"I'm 41 years old, and I still play the game every day. And I can see that the love for the game is not there, but I'm happy that we had a hand in for these kids to be able to get the money that they're making, and the game is going.
"I'm happy that. But at the same time, they got to be professional and continue to show fans that they love the game too, because it can get away from that."
I love the NBA and regularly defend it, but I think Jackson makes a fair observation that there is a lot of spoiledness and selfishness across the league.
As fans, we root for the players who love the game and want to give as much as they can to it, instead of those who are more "interested in what the game can do for them."
But before we pile on NBA players too much, we need to acknowledge just how hard it is to battle selfishness in our own lives.
Thankfully, however, there is a solution to this problem. When we love others more than ourselves, we will sacrifice for them and be more interested in what we can do for them.
If we truly love God and love people, we will be less concerned about what they can do for us because love is at the root of sacrificing and serving.
We all have a bent toward selfishness because of sin, but as we follow Jesus and love Him more, we won't be so focused on what He can do for us. Instead, we will think more about what we can do for Him. When we love Him, we will be willing to give and give up.
John 3:16 is a good reminder of how God demonstrated this: “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son...”
Matthew 20:28 (NLT) reminds us that, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Today, as Stephen Jackson questions the love players have for the game, let’s be challenged to consider if our love for God is leading us to unselfishness.
Jesus commands in John 15:12-13 (AMP), “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for his friends.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that at times I selfishly love my own needs more than anything else. Please help me to love You and love people as I shift my attention toward what I can do to serve. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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