04-23-2025, 07:11 AM
(04-23-2025, 05:35 AM)Knutsen Wrote: Definitely not from a sporting perspective. But from a pure marketing standpoint I fear it could matter a lot, similar to foreign NBA players having a different marketability in their home countries than anybody else. So if Cooper becomes the first white American top 10 player or at least perennial allstar in forever he will have a clear USP, wouldn’t he?
From a marketing standpoint, a white American basketball star would have quite a bit of value, initially, to a certain demographic. On the court, it wouldn't matter. Best player available. Teams over the years have allowed all manner of things to sway their judgements. I've had certain people say "NCAA players from a major conference" as the only players they'd consider if they were GM. That was pre-Dirk. Even at that, after all Dirk did, that person considered Dirk to be the exception to the rule. That person has passed on to the next plane of existence, but I bet he'd still feel that way. Those folks are out there. Is your goal to put the best team on the floor, or is your goal something else? Then, you GM to your goals, whatever they are.