Following James Harden's trade to the Brooklyn Nets, an increasing amount of chatter began around the NBA on the ill-effects the transaction would have on the health of the league itself. Claiming that not only was the presence of another “super team” bad for the parity around the association, but Harden's actions in forcing the move were a negative harbinger for things to come.
Listening to Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors tell it, however, those concerns are not only overblown but have missed the positive effect the trade has had for interest in the league.
“To see [Harden] go out east and team up with KD and Kyrie, I think it was good for the NBA,” Looney said to NBC Sports' Katie Woo and other reporters in the leadup to the two team's match on Saturday. “They’re a talented group with a lot of star power and they’re exciting to watch. I think they’re must-see T.V. every time you turn on the game.”
While many observers have claimed that the “player empowerment era” would erode fan interest in the NBA thanks to the concentration of talent in all but a few markets, what they often forget is the league has historically operated in such a manner.
Though the means by which organizations assemble contenders has changed to allow for more involvement from players, the result is the same, in that only a few squads are legitimate contenders year-to-year.
Looney's broader point that the Nets would generate increased interest for the NBA seems correct given a large amount of media coverage the franchise received following the trade. While many reacted to the James Harden trade with shortsighted takes, it's refreshing to hear Kevon Looney take a more measured approach.
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