This NBA season has been especially challenging for many players and teams. Amid the threat of COVID-19, mostly empty arenas, and a brutal schedule, this campaign is really taking a toll on the overall morale of everyone involved.
In fact, according to Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, this year, in particular, has somewhat corrupted the game
“To be honest, this is probably the most un-pure year of basketball I’ve ever been a part of, just from the whole league and rushing the season back. It’s pretty much all about business this year on every level. It’s hard to hide it now.
The NBA is a great balance of the pure love and joy of one of the best sports in the world mixed with a billion dollar industry, and I think this year the industry side is taking precedent over some of the love and the joy… But there are good days and bad days.
We did vote on what season we wanted, they gave a few options and most of the players picked this option. So we’re in it, which is why I can’t complain about it, but I can point out that this is what is and the pros and cons that come with that. It’s very conflicting.”
Fred VanVleet: "To be honest, this is probably the most un-pure year of basketball I've ever been a part of, just from the whole league and rushing the season back. It's pretty much all about business this year on every level. It's hard to hide it now."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 17, 2021
It’s easy to see how this season’s challenges might take some of the joy away for players. Even though they had a say in the structure of the season, that doesn’t mean it has easy for them to endure it.
Hopefully, by the next campaign, things will be back to normal, and players can re-light their joy and passion for the game.
