Franchise Player

What sets great players apart from the ordinary ones? 

Skill? Maybe. 

Star Factor? Probably. 

We can name a million other reasons on why great players are great but one thing we forget is that they stay on one team for the longest time probably even ending their careers there. This isn't something easy. Along the way, money may lure you out of your current city. You may decide that it is more beneficial for you to play for this certain team since they have the better offer. Young players nowadays fall for that. They prefer to play for the team that presents them the best offer and not the team that best fits into their style of play. Plain and simple, MONEY TALKS! 

Another excuse on why players don't want to stay on their respective teams is that they want to place themselves in the best situation to win a championship. Isn't that familiar? Oh yeah. Those were the exact words that came out of LeBron James' mouth when he decided to head over South Beach and join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. (Yes, all of you might be thinking that I am finally dissing LeBron on my blog publicly. YAY for me.) 

That's just a BS excuse. You look like a coward doing so. You make yourself appear weak, unable to handle the pressure of leading a weak team to the championship. 

That's one thing I admire the most from great franchise players. Let's take for instance Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant was playing his greatest individual basketball season during the '05-'06 and '06-'07 stretch. He was the NBA's leading scorer; scoring virtually 30+ points in every given night. He demanded trades. He had a sex scandal (And is now currently in divorce court. LOL!) but he never gave up. 

Imagine a playoff team having Smush Parker and Luke Walton as your 3rd and 4th best players and still was one game away from upsetting the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. That's freakin' insane! Is it even humanly possible to carry a team for that long? I don't think so. 

Franchise players stick to their team when the going gets rough. They find ways to build around their talent and not run away like a cat. Franchise players have the privilege to be remembered as players who stuck with their teams through thick and thin and they will be forever remembered which team they played for. (With the exception of Jordan. Let's face it, he'll never be remembered in a Wizards uniform) 

That's something missing in the NBA now. Gone were the historic rivalries, the Magic-Bird, the Celtics-Lakers, among many others but why? BECAUSE they never stay put on one team for one reason or the other. 

Do we have to feel sympathy for them very similar to what I/we felt for KG when he moved to the Celtics to win a title? NO. Players are paid for that purpose. They are paid to win at all costs. They are paid to fill the seats in the arena. They are paid to fill sponsorships. It is their duty and responsibility to do anything and everything to win. Under the circumstances, winning comes from the players personal initiative! You have to give yourself the permission to win. 


It's a privilege to be remembered for everything you've done for one city, one team, and in one jersey. Don't waste the opportunity.