NBA: Loyalty Bias

The world of sports seems to be one big conundrum that can't be figured out by anyone with a rational view of thinking. After all, being a fan is in many ways very irrational. From extreme loyalty, rivalries, to riots and all the way up to ritualistic routines that have no impact on the outcome of a game, fans are at the forefront of it all.

Conversely, fans keep major sports afloat. They root when their team wins, invest money in tickets and merchandise, their time, and even feel the numbing pain when their favorite team loses. Needless to say, without the fans, major sports would cease to exist. We as fans know that, as do the players and the teams, which is why organizations go through great lengths to make fans feel appreciated and apart of the team culture.

When fanatics completely envelop themselves within a sports environment, the outside world doesn't matter much. That singular trait is what makes being either a spectator or participant so enticing. Sports offers a level of escapism few other activities can provide. There's so much going on in the world today that sports very well could be the only outlet a lot of fans may have.

Unfortunately, ignorance isn’t always bliss and any disturbance, to the already unpredictable ways of sports, can sometimes be met with irrationality. Burning jerseys of players who leave via free agency or trade, is definitely a sign of irrationality. NBA All-Star, Isaiah Thomas is one of the more recent figures to have his jersey burned. No one got hurt, but the intent and the message it sends is very alarming.

Some fans only care about what a player can provide, after that, they essentially have no use. What's even more alarming is the fact that Thomas didn't ask to be traded. With all things considered, it seemed as though Thomas loved Boston and its fan base. During the start of the NBA playoffs, Thomas and his family were struck by tragedy when his younger sister, Chyna, died in a car accident.

Through the support of family, the NBA community, teammates, and rational fans alike, he remained with the Celtics and continued to play through hardship. Thomas even scored 53 points, to claim victory over the Washington Wizards in overtime, on his sister's 23rd birthday.

How could a player who gave his all during what was surely, one of the most trying times of his life, be subjected to some fans burning his jersey? On the same token, organizations get to act with near immunity under the guise of “business." Players deal with the backlash while teams carry on as if nothing ever happened.

How could Thomas be traded knowing everything he did on a nightly basis? It is a business, however, players are rarely afforded the same luxury of understanding. There's a certain level of bias that exists for players and organizations. Thomas seemed as if he finally found his NBA home in Boston, but the Celtics front office had other plans.

General managers make decisions all the time for the betterment of the team, but when a player makes a decision for their own betterment, the result usually ends in vilification. Kevin Durant and LeBron James famously took matters into their own hands during free agency and left their respective teams for what they felt was a better situation.

Whatever their reasons, it was their right to do so. Had either player been traded, headlines would've favored the front office for making what would inexplicably be a blockbuster trade. Why are players often scrutinized when the majority are a few bad games away from being traded?

Thomas averaged nearly 30 points per game, his bad games were few and far between and yet, he still found himself in the middle of a trade. Players are expected to play through injuries, perform at high levels consistently, remain loyal all because they earn a generous salary. While the salaries are nice, no amount of money can help cope with pain or the loss of a loved one. We forget after witnessing their superhuman feats on an almost daily basis that they too, are in fact, human.

Admittedly, no one wants to see their favorite players, play for another team. Sports are supposed to be fun, a means to escape for a moment and to enjoy the spirit of competition. Let's keep the burning jerseys to a minimum and simply berate them if they decide to go elsewhere - it's more fun that way.

Photo Credit: NBA & The Undefeated.