Some NBA players are infamous for having an extravagant lifestyle off the court. If athletes are earning millions from the nascent stages of their adulthood, then not all of them can be expected to make the best decisions with their money. However, Carmelo Anthony believes that liking an extravagant and loud lifestyle is a common misunderstanding about NBA players.
Anthony appeared on his ‘7 PM in Brooklyn’ podcast and made his feelings candidly clear on what NBA players do in their free time, while addressing the strip club culture in the league, which became prominent in the 2000s.
“Most strippers would tell you, athletes are cheap. Athletes ain’t spending no bread in the strip club. They do it quietly. They ain’t spending no bread in the strip club. They would tell you that right away, man. Leave them athlete ni**** alone.”
“It’s quiet. It’s quiet because at the time, it was like forbidden to be in those places as an athlete; it was forbidden,” said Anthony while recalling his playing days in the 2000s.
“The misconception about NBA players is that you’re locked down. You got two hours of practice, two, three hours of practice in the morning. The rest of your day is free. You’re really on your own. Whatever your responsibility is, that’s on you.”
Anthony believes athletes try to remain low-key about their business and are usually at strip clubs, not to enjoy their lap dances but to enjoy the buffet, vibes, and good music.
“Everybody thinks that you are going there to get lap dances. You’re going there for the bulls***. No, you’re not going there for the bulls***. You’re really going there to clear your mind.”
“You go there to just relax and clear your mind. You might have a drink, might have some food. Most strip clubs have the best food, especially the wings. So, you prefer to go there to get everything in one place. You get music, you get food, you get good vibes.”
From Dennis Rodman’s era to the likes of James Harden and Ja Morant in today’s NBA, players have often been spotted at strip clubs, even when they are on the road with their teams.
Anthony essentially highlights that veterans in the league consider strip clubs as a part of the NBA culture and use them as a recreational atmosphere for players to unwind. Some veterans even went as far as making women forbidden from off-court team activities, as it helps keep them focused as well.
In essence, Anthony thinks NBA players are not attracted to living an extravagant lifestyle that attracts a lot of attention. However, that attitude does not stop them from indulging in the luxuries that come to them as team activities, like going to a strip club with their teammates.
