I think I need to have eBay taken away from me 😂

Didn’t get but first time ever seeing this brand there

Hi coaches! I wrote an article about how youth sports have become a highly monetized and scrutinized space, and wanted to hear your perspectives on how it has impacted you locally. My main argument is that the "professionalization" of youth sports has fostered and heightened a sense of entitlement and corruption to the games that we once loved.

You can read it here or below:

Youth sports have been placed under a microscope in recent years, as instances of corruption and misbehavior have run rampant around the country.

In the past, I have written about the mimetic rivalry that spurs these newsworthy situations, and how parents, coaches, officials, and even players have a part in it.

In this article, I want to focus on an adjacent and equally frustrating development in youth sports: its professionalization.

Youth sports pre-COVID took place in a different world. Gone are the days of playing in a dingy Catholic school gym with humble-appearing uniforms and few accessories to go with them.

In today’s society, walking into a local gym resembles a circus act. Players are now sporting a plethora of colorful and expensive accessories with professional-looking jerseys, oftentimes with their names on the back. Sometimes there are professional videographers and/or photographers capturing high-quality footage of the lackluster gameplay. Loud music often fills what used to be moments of conversation and development, in an effort to replicate the ambience of an NBA arena.

All of these things are not inherently bad. Having videos and photos of your child playing their favorite sport can be highly fulfilling and rewarding for families. It is also beneficial for the photographers and videographers that are being compensated for their work. Also, the professional jerseys, colorful accessories, and loud music probably make the players feel important within the playing environment.

However, I think the message these things send is largely not a good one. The modern jersey design, especially with names on the back, leaves room for players to think are bigger than the program. Furthermore, players wearing expensive shoes and accessories creates a hierarchy within teams, as families that spend a lot of time and money on curating these things will expect their children to get more playing time and be featured more prominently within the team. Finally, the facilitation of an NBA-like environment with loud music, photographers, and videographers has fostered an attitude of entitlement among the parties involved in youth sports. 

All that said, I think we need to look introspectively as a society, and examine how we lost the purpose of youth sports. What originally started as recreational activities for families to enjoy has become a bastardized cesspool of negativity.

People have certainly taken advantage of this. There has been an emergence of travel teams and coaches that charge families a lot of money under the guise that their participation will improve their child’s chances of making a high school or college roster down the road. Consequently, many of these programs are not really effective, as success in most sports comes down to inherent physical qualities, athletic abilities, and a strong work ethic, which many of these children do not possess.

By taking on professional qualities, youth sports has become monetized to the extent that there are legitimate financial implications involved, causing more frustration from parents and coaches. When they are not seeing a return on their investment, the likelihood of misbehavior increases. That is why I think the professionalization of youth sports is a net negative for society, and it abandons the humble roots that made them so popular.

Wrote an article about where we go from here after a tough break in the lottery yesterday. Original link is here. Read below:

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Disappointment spread through Brooklyn on Mother’s Day as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum pulled the Brooklyn Nets logo from the envelope with a smile on his face. 

Despite their best efforts in sending franchise legends like Vince Carter and Mr. Whammy, the Nets failed to crack the highly coveted top four placement in this year’s draft. This means that they will almost certainly miss out on the likes of AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson.

So where do they go from here?

Nets General Manager Sean Marks gave a vague answer when asked about the team’s approach.

“…But at the end of the day, we’ve got optionality, we’ve maintained flexibility, we’ve got the cap space and assets. So I think the word would be opportunistic,” Marks said in an interview with Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.

This has been a consistent message throughout Marks’s tenure with the Nets, and not really indicative of where the organization is looking.

The bottom line is that they are left with minimal options. Tanking is off the table, as they do not own their 2027 first round pick—it is a swap worst with the Rockets (meaning they will get the least favorable pick).

That said, they are incentivized to contend next season with arguably the least talented roster in the league as currently constructed. 

So let’s go over some options that will allow them to make a push for playoff contention while maintaining “flexibility,” as Marks likes to say.

#1: Talent Acquisition - RFA Market, Trades for Cap Relief

Despite their poor lottery luck, the Nets are fortunate to have a plethora of cap space, which can help them with obtaining good players. 

Since tanking is no longer a viable option, they need to field a competitive team going forward. 

One way to do so is through pursuing trades with teams that are looking to get large contracts off the books.

They did a similar thing last year with the Terance Mann trade, which also brought in Drake Powell using the draft pick they acquired. 

Another way is through the restricted free agency market.

While they haven’t really been active in the RFA market lately, they have a history of signing hefty offer sheets with former free agents such as Allen Crabbe, Otto Porter Jr, and others. Whether or not they actually get the players, this strategy will be helpful in increasing the salary cap obligations for other teams if they want to keep these talented players.

Some players to watch out for this offseason are Austin Reaves, Peyton Watson, Tari Eason, and Jalen Duran. While these players will likely return to their current teams, potentially getting one or two of them would be really impactful for Brooklyn, given their lack of proven NBA talent on the roster.

#2: Star Hunting

It has been a few years since the Nets have rostered star talent. During that time, the Nets saw increased fan engagement, excitement surrounding the team, and the beginnings of a strong local fanbase.

Since then, the team has been near the bottom of the NBA standings, and the Knicks have reclaimed local attention, as they have been a regular playoff team for a few years now.

If the right star becomes available, there is no doubt that the Nets will do their due diligence and pursue the opportunity. When I say the right star, I mean someone that has the ability to truly swing the pendulum like Giannis Antetokounmpo; not Ja Morant.

Several low-achieving teams have followed this path, with the Wizards obtaining Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and the Jazz getting Jaren Jackson Jr. 

While I feel that Sean Marks would be more aligned with the first option I presented, I think that the combination of pressure from the owner, Joe Tsai, and the right disgruntled star could steer him in this direction. 

#3: Stay Put and Remain Flexible

The Nets have the sixth pick in the draft. All signs point towards them using this pick and drafting a player, as they have invested a lot into their draft process. They will be choosing from the likes of Darius Acuff Jr, Mikel Brown Jr, Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, and other accomplished college talent. There is no doubt that their selection could result in an instant impact for the team.

They also have the five rookies from last year with a whole summer to continue with their development. They are obviously hoping for strides to be made by these players in their second year. 

The team also features established NBA talent like Michael Porter Jr and Nic Claxton, with young emerging talent like Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams, and Day’ron Sharpe. 

With these pieces, the Nets could definitely outperform the 2025-26 iteration of the team, as there will be a renewed focus on winning games, as tanking will be off the table. 

While the playoffs would be difficult to crack with this strategy, they could continue to pursue options through the trade market throughout the season, using their flexibility and cap space to do so.