With the loaded crop of talent set to enter the NBA in 2014, there are teams that are intentionally sabotaging their seasons in hopes of securing a high draft pick.
While it’s hard to knock a team for wanting to build for the future, the notion of tanking definitely leaves a bad taste in some people’s mouths.
One of those people is legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose freshman phenom, Jabari Parker, is one of the prime targets of teams hoping to hit rock bottom in 2013. Coach K made his feelings on the subject clear after the Blue Devils’ loss to Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, a game in which Parker led all scorers with 27 points while adding nine boards and two steals.
“If that is happening, shame on whoever is doing it,” Krzyzewski said, according to SNY.tv.
“As an American I wouldn’t like to think that an American team would [ever] want to lose or create situations where you would want to lose. I can’t even fathom. I can’t go there. I can’t believe that that would happen. Maybe I’m naive and I’m going to go ready a fairytale after this.”
Though it might not be the most palatable way to rebuild a franchise, there are plenty of general managers who would trade a season of ridicule for a shot at the next LeBron James every day of the week — and twice on Sunday.
Sorry, Coach K. It is what it is.
