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Getting as much money as possible is typically the biggest thing on the mind of most NBA players who enter free agency, but if I’ve learned anything from the conversations that spawn whenever a big name is up for grabs, it’s that you can’t overlook the value that comes with playing for what is frequently described as a “Big Market Team.”
There are obviously plenty of upsides that come with playing in the likes of Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, but if Russell Westbrook has learned anything during his time on the Lakers, it’s that you’re also opening yourself up to plenty of criticism you might not be subjected to if you opt to take your talents to somewhere like Utah or Memphis.
Playing in a big market can be a gift and a curse for a variety of reasons; larger media outlets can either be your best friend or worst enemy, and while you’ll have access to plenty of perks smaller cities might not be able to offer, it’s very easy for them to turn into dreaded “off-court distraction.”
Carmelo Anthony learned that the hard way when the Nuggets traded him to the Knicks in 2011, and based on what his ex-wife La La had to say about what transpired following the move, that transaction also marked the beginning of the end of their marriage.
La La Anthony says Carmelo getting traded to the New York Knicks was a major turning point in their relationship
La La—who filed for divorce in 2021 after being married to Melo for close to 11 years—discussed that fateful trade during a recent appearance on Call Her Daddy where she outlined how NYC caused things to deteriorate, saying:
“When we moved to New York—I’m from New York, so being back was nothing new—but when we lived here under all of that [pressure], that’s when things became complicated. Now that I look back, I think that was the start of the demise of the marriage.
With the scrutiny and the media and the press—just everything. It is really, really hard. That’s not the only reason things didn’t work out but things got tough with New York. It’s constantly being under the spotlight, people watching every little thing…
Denver was so laid back. New York is like ‘I gotta get on my grind.’ Then I started really going overdrive with my career and wanting things to go that way, so it’s like he’s doing his thing, I’m doing mine.”
She also said she found out her ex-husband had a habit of getting into some trouble in certain places on the road that might not be at the top of your list when it comes to cities that offer the most temptation:
“I would be like, ‘Oh those are the problem cities’; like Miami, I’d be like, ‘Oh, I’m definitely not sleeping tonight or I’m going to figure out a way to get there.’
But here’s what I found out: be careful with these other cities that you think don’t have as much going on, because those are the ones where the s—t is going down.”
The more you know.