Drew Margolin
Jul 10, 2017 · 1 min read

I agree with you on the “another ivory backscratcher” argument (if you’re a Simpsons fan). Durant will be fine.

But I think this article was pretty clearly framed as players vs. owners sacrifice, as evidence by the top highlight (last sentence of paragraph two).

Also, I believe that the larger cause of workers everywhere is undermined when we fail to acknowledge the presence of the owners, and the rules they’ve rigged to their advantage, in any industry. Kevin Durant is underpaid, which means that someone else is overpaid (in this case Lacob, and also Dolan). In a normal, competitive industry, Durant would be showered with stock options etc. for the value he brings to a specific private business. In a normal, competitive industry 5 teams would have moved to New York City and run Dolan’s Knicks out of business.

I agree that we don’t need to cry for Durant. But when we see any money flow away from him and toward the owners, we should cry foul.

    Drew Margolin

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    Assistant Professor of Communication