“Should would get killed.”
“It would be a sideshow.”
“Women can’t play with men.”
“She would get embarrassed.”
“It would be a joke.”
There were a 100 more Tweets sent to me, similar to the ones above, when I floated the idea, I have floated for years, that Brittney Griner should try out for the NBA.
I am a very simple man, I see things in simple terms, when you over think, you complicate things. I use logic and common sense when I am making assessments. The question I keep asking myself is this.
What is the downside for Griner trying to compete with the men in the NBA?
The answer I came up with, has been the same one for years, there isn’t a downside. All the reasons given for her not trying, wouldn’t have any affect on her. If she fails, you think the WNBA or teams overseas are going to hold that against her? Of course not, because she would be a bigger star for even trying. If anything, it would make her more attractive to those teams.
I want to make something clear, I am not saying I believe Brittney Griner could play in the NBA. What I am saying is, I would be very interested to see her try.
I think you would be as well and so does Mark Cuban. Here is what he had to say courtesy of Larry Brown Sports.
“If she is the best on the board, I will take her,” Cuban said, per McMahon. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I’d lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it’s not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it.”
Cuban also reportedly told McMahon that he would at least be open to inviting her to play for the team’s summer league squad. Not only is Cuban curious to see whether Griner can play at an NBA level, but he also knows such a signing would be great for business.
“That’d sell out a few games,” he said.
Cuban sees the business aspects of it, people would be curious and if she by chance made a roster, it would be a very big deal.
For Griner herself, she would go from a niche star, to an international star. It would be one of the biggest stories of the summer and would crossover to the Mainstream. She would be on The Today Show, The View, ELLEN, E! and etc. It would be become bigger than just a sport story. There have been great women basketball players in the past and some are still big stars overseas, but in the States, they are virtually unknown. Do you know what Candace Parker is doing now?
The Today Show isn’t going to cover her in the WNBA, but if she is drafted in NBA, I guarantee she is talking to Matt Lauer the next day. Even if she fails miserably which is quite possible, she enhances her profile and money-making opportunities. If she happens to succeed, then the sky’s the limit.
What does Griner have to lose?
Absolutely, nothing.
What does she have to gain?
EVERYTHING.