Posted on 04/03/2013 10:51:34 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
With Brittney Griner's college career wrapping up and a long, dominant basketball career ahead of her, Mark Cuban asked a question that I'm sure many of us have thought about: What about the NBA?
Cuban told reporters before the Dallas Mavericks' game against the Los Angeles Lakers that not only would he give her a chance, he would draft her if she was the best player left that would potentially make an impact (via ESPN):
If she is the best on the board, I will take her. I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it's not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it.
He talked about picking up Griner as if it would be more than just a publicity stunt, though he was obviously aware of the increased attention the Mavericks would get if he were to go through with it:
She'd still have to make the team. I'm not going to carry her just to carry her. I don't think, anyways. But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to giving her the opportunity.
(On the huge marketing potential for Summer League games)
It would, wouldn't it? See how she could do? That'd sell out a few games
(Excerpt) Read more at bleacherreport.com ...
Me? I think Griner could hold her own against many in the NBA.
Could Griner play in the NBA?
(Poll at link)
No, she can barely dunk. NBA will be the last major sport to include women largely because of the tiny rosters, there’s just no room on an NBA roster for anybody not one of the best. MLB will be the first, benches are long and it’s non-contact. NFL will be next but she’ll be a kicker.
I agree it's possible that a very few exceptional women, perhaps Griner, could play in the NBA. But the reverse, a man playing in the WBA, is not in the cards. Reminds me of the midget who was signed to a major league team many years ago and actually took the field at least once. But that was purely a stunt.
Heh. She didn’t even hold her own against Louisville.
Cuban’s just drawing attention. He’s good at that.
SnakeDoc

SnakeDoc
Seeing how the Mavs have played this year, she might be one of their better players.
She certainly would have been an improvement over Lamar Kardashian last year.
The NHL tried this some years ago, with a female goal tender. Her brother played in the NHL for awhile, and she was a good women’s team hockey player, but no match for the male hockey players. A boys high school hockey team, from a little town, called Warroad, population 1,770, in northern Minnesota, beat the US women’s team in 2006. The women can’t play with the men.
I don’t think she is a she. I am amazed that other coaches didn’t demand a gender test, but I think they were cowed into keeping quiet.
No. Any reasonably strong high-school boys team would sweep the Baylor women off the court. What would high-school senior Lebron James have done against Griner’s defense? The gap between the levels of play being discussed is vast.
Griner will never play in the NBA. Its great PR for the WNBA however.
Did he come up short?
Any NCAA men’s team could easily beat Griner’s Baylor team. She has as much chance in the NBA as Barack Obama has being a major league pitcher.
LOL.
Man.
Excellent example!
Beat me to it.
I also believe that coaches are cowed into not speaking out for a gender test.
And I can imagine the WashPost/NyTimes et all board room, exclaiming, “Why would we do an investigative piece on her childhood”?
Griner would get destroyed in the first two minutes of an NBA practice, and run off the court crying.
Being a 6-8 stick is good for women’s hoops, but dangerous for NBA
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