Marc Stein: Al Horford Is Candidate To Replace Derek Fisher As Players' Union Head

I don’t understand the comment, either.

someone who will not be collecting NBA retirement money in a couple of years

shouldn’t be nearing retirement age when making decisions that impact significantly past their career end.

In baseball, Tom Glavine was heavily involved as a team rep and, eventually, the player rep.

I don’t think his career suffered.

Sure, it’s a different sport, but I haven’t followed the paths of too many player reps, but I cannot imagine there’s a huge difference.

You don’t put your MVP, and face of franchise to do the work of worker bees. Lion and Smoove and Teague are the future. They need to sharpen their skills and that is not done in office with paperwork. It is exactly that reason Kobe and Lebron and others like them don’t get involved. They are the face of the franchise, and should stay away from hand to hand combat and bad blood that goes on in those situations.

Two other points,

1. Funny you mention Glavine. Remember, since that baseball strike, Glavine never got the respect he deserved with the fans at the stadium. Personally I think that was unfair, as he was one of the three original top guns, even prior to Maddux along with Avery and Smoltzy. But that episode, for some people made Glavine become this dark character and to this day, there are people that don’t give him respect he so deserves. Lion needs none of that nonsense.

2. I disagree with his approach to the game this past summer. I am as big a fan of his as any. But playing for Dominican republic vs. college all stars and then playing against Costa Rica and whatever other silly countries he played against, does not prepare him for the rigors of NBA. What he needed, is exactly what Smoove and JJ did. Go to dusty old gyms and play with KG and Rondo and others day in and out with rough competition, and go to big man camp and learn inside skills. You can not tell me he is a polished big man at this point. No way, no how, and playing games like basketball to qualify you country for Olympics does not allow you to learn those skills. And even if they qualified, so what? What is Dominican Republic or even US Olympics basketball have anything to do with legacy of NBA players? Ahh i get it, it is a nice experience, but unless you are in swimming or women’s gymnastics, Olympics are meaningless for NBA ballers. There is no way I believe he was in as good a shape as JJ or Smoove when this season started. He is always in great shape, but that lack of training, did not do him good. I may be old fashioned, but leave Olympics for college kids.