Has the Business Side of the NBA Taken the Fun out of the Game? Arvydas Macijauskas Thinks so...

The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets signed Lithuanian shooting guard Arvydas Macijauskas in August, 2005. Multiple DNP, Coach's Decisions later, Arvydas requested a trade. The Hornets eventually released him from their roster.

Perhaps still bitter from his not-so-eventful stint with the Hornets, Arvydas had this to say about The League: "The NBA isn't fun. Teams are not teams, there's no true commitment between the teammates. Everybody is always talking about money and business, so it seems it doesn't matter to win or lose. I love European basketball because all that counts is winning, playing big games, being happy with your team, your fans."

Within the mini-tirade, a few good points are made. The NBA does promote individualism just as much - if not more than - teamwork. On Christmas day, you watch "Kobe and the Lakers vs. Shaq, D-Wade, and the Miami Heat." Players often "test the free agent market," and leave their respective teams to play for the highest bidder. Case in point: after two stellar seasons in Cleveland, the Cavaliers did not pick up the third year option on second round draft pick Carlos Boozer. The Cavs' front office claimed that Boozer, rather than sign a one year extension, had agreed to sign a long-term deal with the organization. Rather than stay in Cleveland, an organization obviously headed in the right direction, Boozer bolted to Utah; the Jazz offered more money.

Boozer offered, "There was no commitment, it's unfortunate how it went through the media but I'm really excited to be in the situation I'm in. . . . It's against the rules, first of all, to have [a pre-arranged agreement]. I'm not a guy that gives my word and then takes it away, I think I made that clear." There is exactly no chance that the Cavs made Boozer a free agent without believing that he would re-sign with the team with a long-term deal. The translation of "I'm really excited to be in the situation I'm in:" I'm RICH!

Thanks to an unruly hamstring, since his arrival in Utah, Boozer has played in 84 of 164 games. Do you believe in Karma?

Another point that Arvydas made was that he did not have fun with his team. Concerning Hornets coach Byron Scott, who did not have a good relationship with Arvydas, Macijauskas explained, "Everything went wrong. A really bad coach, a really bad franchise..." Needless to say, not everybody in the NBA hates their coach and teammates - few do.

Back to Arvydas' comment that he is happier with his Euro-fans; for the most part, American fans do not dub as players' drinking partners. In Europe, I wouldn't put anything past them...

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