Professional Athletes and the Loyalty Card

Just as your typical everyday employees have employers that have certain expectations from them and vice versa, athletes share a similar relationship with the organizations that they work for. Does anyone every question an employee's loyalty when we an employee exits leaves seeking greener pastures? Or is anyone surprised if an employer lays off hundreds or thousands of employees after many years of dedicated service when the employer comes to the conclusion that they no longer have a business need for said employees? The obvious answer to these questions is, no.

Kevin Durant recently left Oklahoma City, a team that drafted him and where he spent his entire career since. Regardless of the reasons involved and the hurt feelings involved, at the end of the day, the sport of Basketball is a business like other sports. A business with many vested parties, yes, but a business nonetheless. That Kevin Durant left OKC for what he perceived as a good move for his career should not cause outsiders to personally attack or resent him. The truth is, due to the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) players such as Durant and Lebron James as well as others are undervalued with respect to the salaries they are paid due to the salary cap which limits what teams can pay them. Their contracts do not reflect the out-sized benefit that they bring to the organizations they decide to represent. In light of this verity, they should be given some leeway with regards to any ambitions they may have beyond the salary figures that multiple teams are willing to offer them.

And certainly, the loyalty card is a weak card to play in this game.