ESPN has caused some waves in recent years with their “Player X Blog,” a weekly article written by an anonymous athlete who freely talks about his trade behind the name Player X. With that freedom, players have divulged shocking information that would never reach the media if there were a face and name to put behind the quote.
In this week’s edition, the NBA star uses his fifth column to address the looming lockout and claims that if the NBA cannot avoid the work stoppage, players will go overseas and many may never come back.
Player X cited the examples of Allen Iverson in Turkey and Stephon Marbury in China as two players that have been able to achieve success outside of America. A few months ago in Sports Illustrated, Marbury’s tenure in China was highlighted. The article showed how Marbury has not only been a star on court for his team, but how he has also rebuilt his Starbury brand.
But the biggest story coming out of Player X’s most recent article is his claim that “[America’s] coaches are terrible. And not just in the NBA. Coaches across the whole game stink -- high school, AAU, college.” Player X went on to claim that most coaches have made a name for themselves by riding the backs of the NBA’s greatest players. While he didn’t name any names, one would expect the writer was aiming at the likes of Tom Thibodeau and Erik Spoelstra.
“They've grown fat on our natural athletic abilities, and they've gotten lazy,” Player X wrote. “Nobody coaches fundamentals anymore. We might as well rename the NBA the AABA: African-American Basketball Association.
“It's basically a very talented street-ball league. Americans simply can't dribble, pass, work the post or shoot the rock as well as our foreign counterparts, like Dirk Nowitzki. And their coaches get the credit for that.”
The player later claimed that he is a “big-name veteran” and said that if the NBA does have a lockout, he will certainly head overseas.
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