NBA starts season with multiple tensions and explosive scenarios

Dramas are a part of the NBA almost as much as dunks. Disagreements between teammates, speculation about player trades and disgruntled superstars are all part of the entertainment in the North American basketball league, whose 2022/23 season starts this Tuesday (18).

And the ball goes up to the new championship with great explosive potential. There are situations of tension in several teams, something well illustrated by the last finalists. In the defending champion, Golden State Warriors, the prep training had a fight between colleagues with punches in the face. Runner-up Boston Celtics suspended their coach for “sexually inappropriate conduct.”

On both coasts of the United States, in the days leading up to the start of the competition, more was said about these problems than about the possibility of the talented teams returning to the decision. Going to the ultimate series in consecutive years is historically difficult, and the task has become even more complicated.

“This is the biggest crisis we’ve had since I became the coach here,” said Steve Kerr, 57, who took over the Warriors in 2014 and led them to four titles. “It’s really serious. We’re not perfect. But let’s build on the experience we have together. We have a lot of work ahead of us. All of us.”

In a workout earlier this month, the always provocative Draymond Green got into an argument with Jordan Poole. The veteran didn’t like what he heard and punched the young companion, who fell, knees bent, knocked out. The video was leaked and aired by the gossip website TMZ. In addition to having a serious internal problem, Golden State found itself in a public relations crisis.

There were multiple meetings between players, members of the coaching staff and managers. The team’s ace, Stephen Curry, 34, acted to cut corners. Poole, the battered one, was involved in the decision making. And after a few days out, Green was fined but not suspended and reinstated.

“I failed as a man. I failed as a leader. I am a human being with many flaws,” Draymond said, saying he let problems and emotions surface in the worst way. “I hurt someone because I was in a place of pain,” added the winger, adding that he is “doing the work” to become someone better.

The 32-year-old, who is entering the final season of his commitment to the Warriors, denied that the contractual situation had anything to do with the spat. Poole, 23, was in the same situation, but reached an agreement with the board last weekend and extended his tenure to four years, with a total salary of $140 million.

Green still has his future undefined and, before entering into negotiations, seeks to restore the confidence of his teammates. Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka won’t have that chance. For a nebulous case that no details were released, he was suspended by the team for the entire season.

The statement on the decision cited “multiple violations of club policies” and pointed to “months of investigation”. “We go to great lengths to run the organization with respect as a core value. We cherish a work environment free of harassment and unwanted attention,” said franchise owner Wyc Grousbeck.

A Celtics spokesperson claimed that Udoka’s violations were linked to a woman employed by the team. Multiple US outlets pointed to “an inappropriate relationship”, although, according to sources, consensual. “[A suspensão] is deserved and appropriate, based on substantial research, evidence and facts,” said Grousbeck.

Without Udoka, 45, who reached the finals in his first season as head coach in the NBA, the board decided to temporarily promote an assistant. Joe Mazzulla, 34, uncomfortably takes on a cast full of young talent and potential. “It’s controlling what we can control. That’s our mantra. We need to keep the noise out,” said guard Marcus Smart, 28.

There is also noise at several other times. One of the loudest is the starry and complicated Brooklyn Nets. Star Kevin Durant, 34, even formalized a request to be traded for not believing in coach Steve Nash, 48, and general manager Sean Marks, 48. Kyrie Irving, 30, was also dissatisfied.

No exchanges that satisfied the leaders materialized, and Durant was persuaded to stay. One of the arguments was the possibility of testing the chemistry with Ben Simmons, 26, who arrived last season and is recovering from injury. It might work. And it may be that speculation about possible exchanges grows rapidly.

At the Phoenix Suns, as seasoned reporter Marc J. Spears described it, the mood on returning to work was “funeral.” Team owner Robert Sarver, 60, was fined $10 million and suspended by the NBA for one year. An investigation uncovered repeated cases of racism and bullying on his part.

Important players from other clubs, such as LeBron James, considered the punishment extremely lenient and spoke out. But behind the scenes, league commissioner Adam Silver, 60, acted to get Sarver to put the franchise up for sale. Which relieved the pressure, but didn’t solve the Suns’ problems.

There is a tense atmosphere between coach Monty Williams, 51, and center Deandre Ayton, 24, who considers himself underutilized in attack. Ayton tried to leave Phoenix, signing a pre-deal with the Indiana Pacers, but the Suns were entitled to exercise their priority, matching the offer and holding the player.

The situation is more of a discomfort, which Deandre made no attempt to hide. He even tried to say that he is committed to fulfilling his role and moving forward, but he made it clear that the relationship with the coach is not good. Asked about the matter, he gave monosyllabic answers and stated, after the first pre-season training session, that he hadn’t spoken to the boss for months.

Even with all the drama, of course, there will be basketball of the highest level, shown in Brazil by Band, ESPN, Star+, TNT Sports, YouTube and Twitch, in addition to the streaming service of the NBA’s own website. It will be a year of tribute to Bill Russell, Boston legend, owner of 11 league titles, who died at the age of 88.

And it has everything to be a year of celebration for LeBron James, 37, who goes into his 20th season with the real possibility of becoming the biggest scorer in NBA history. He already has that title if you count the points scored in the “playoffs”, but the Americans have a habit of counting only regular season games in the account.

By that yardstick, the winger, who passed through the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat before joining the Los Angeles Lakers, has 37,062 points. He is second only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 75, who passed the Milwaukee Bucks, made history in the Lakers themselves and has 38,387, most of which are noted in his iconic hook.

“It’s something huge, I believe. It’s one of the most sought-after records in the sport,” said the ace, who unceremoniously stated that he had “no relationship” with Abdul-Jabbar. In any case, the hunt for Kareem’s numbers will be one of the stories of the championship and another attraction for the league, which is still recovering from the economic downturn of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The NBA specializes in monetizing its great moments. In addition to content on social networks and future documentaries, a range of products with this achievement should be produced and marketed. The mobilization also attracts new fans, which are fundamental”, said Renê Salviano, CEO of Heatmap agency, specialist in sports marketing.

LeBron’s quest, befitting this year’s design, will not be without drama. The Lakers have “an elephant in the room”, Russell Westbrook. The 33-year-old guard has a game that doesn’t fit James’ game, but a high-value contract, which has made attempts to trade him very difficult.

James clearly wanted to see his colleague traded, which made the group’s re-performance fraught with embarrassment. To make matters worse, the Los Angeles team signed an old rival from Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, 34. The preseason has already had scenes in which Russell left the group’s wheels to be alone, refusing to listen to his teammates.

The Lakers will open their campaign at 23:00 (Brasília time) this Tuesday, with Prime Video broadcast, in a duel with the Warriors. LeBron and Westbrook will try to show that everything is ok. Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, too. The awarding ceremony of last season’s champion rings to Golden State athletes will be held. And there will even be basketball.