Opinion Corner: Excitement surrounding NBA’s return

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The NBA is back and I couldn’t be more excited for the 66-game schedule promised to tip off with a five-game Christmas Day.

First, it’s important to thank network television, which provides 25 percent of the league’s revenue. Owners weren’t about to let nearly a billion dollars of revenue slip away with a lost season.

It’s funny to think about the battle of the greedy between players and owners and then comes $1 billion in TV money — surprise greed wins out again.

Owners got a deal they wanted and players like Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are no longer unemployed. A reported 50-50 split in income is what appeared to finally bridge the gap.

The new agreement also is alleged to make it harder for teams to spend and spend without penalty. This league is supposed to have a salary cap, yet consistently the teams with the largest payrolls win.

Am I the only one thinking “World Champion Minnesota Timberwolves” in the next three years? — Don’t answer that.

But professional hoops is still going to be watching millionaires play a boys’ game. But it still should prove more exciting than the NHL.

Still there are some serious questions that need to be answered this season.

Are the Dallas Mavericks strong enough to repeat as world champs? Will Lebron continue to choke in the postseason? Do Kobe and the Lakers have enough left in the tank to make another title run?

I missed the NBA because it was easy to follow and the Bucks find a way to make the playoffs every year — just another reason to root for Wisconsin.

There is some reason for Timberwolves fans to be excited, too. Rookie Derrick Williams has terrific upside and the much anticipated debut of Spanish whiz kid Ricky Rubio should provide some curiosity even to the casual fan.

Nevermind that it’s a league filled with greedy owners and repeat offenders, the NBA is back — better late than never.

Rodgers is a news writer at the Jamestown Sun.

Tags: sports, nba, basketball, opinion, columns