“People pay good money to see LeBron play,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “The Cavaliers didn’t even have their three best players fly to Memphis for the game. It rips our fans off, plain and simple, and we have to send a message. We want the best product on the court every night, that’s why they get paid thirty million a year.”
Gregg Popovich, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs was fined $250,000 for sitting out their star players three years ago because the team did not give the NBA notification about sitting their star players that fans come to see. Tonight, the Cavaliers will also sit out stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Erving. Lebron will be paid 7 times the national yearly salary to take the game off.
The $5 million fine is the largest fine ever in professional sports. The New England Patriots were fined $1 million after ‘Spygate’ when the team recorded the New York Jets practice sessions.
James’s representatives have yet to comment but inside sources say they plan on petitioning the league to review the “excessive” fine.
James is expected to earn $80 million this year including endorsements. Fans were frantically trying to sell their tickets through secondary market but tickets were going as little as 0.50 cents. “Absolutely, positively, no reason to attend this game. Might as well go to a high school game.”
