Michael Porter Jr on WNBA/NBA equality: “It’s what the people want to watch. They’re (WNBA) aren’t packing the arena so as much as I advocate for women and the quality of their craft, you can’t pay them the same”
by NBAperspective
@National Basketball Association
26 Comments
Accurate but it’s so obvious and said so much it feels mean to pile on lol
I wish my team had some women on it at this point tbh
He isn’t wrong but I am shocked to hear an NBA player say this.
College sports is similar discussion with the explosion of ~~pay to play~~ NIL. Football carries the athletic programs (men’s basketball secondary). But women’s soccer players won’t be given the same endorsements as men’s football. Heck, not even men’s soccer.
As the great Larry David said “somebody had to do it”
We all have to pretend that this is controversial because we don’t want to hurt feelings.
WNBA has smaller basketballs, closer three point distance, less minutes played per game over a shorter season, at this point they might as well lower the rims too
A woman of equal talent could play in the NBA and get paid like they do in the NBA
A man of equal talent who played in the WNBA would get paid like they do in the WNBA
Though they seem like the same job, the talent you need *is* different. Women could play in the NBA if they had the ability to do that job.
I think it’s flawed to say that the WNBA and the NBA are the same job and thus people should get paid like they are doing the same job.
It’s like the NBA vs. Euroleague. Are those in the Euroleague doing the same job? They get paid differently. Same with NBA players and G-Leaguers.
Edit: Maybe “talent” isn’t the correct term. Maybe “ability” is the better term. Term can be different, but the question is the same, “Can you do the job of an NBA player?”
Someone is at your door bro, watch out
It’s the same for Porn. Average woman gets paid more than man, because it’s what the people want to watch. I don’t see people advocating for male porn star pay equality
Doesn’t WNBA players get payed more % wise then NBA players when we take a loot at total earnings of WNBA and NBA?
Bruh their league would be bankrupt without NBA. They probably get paid too much.
I remember watching a girls game on lower rims, it was amazing, girls were able to showcase their athleticism, dunks, rebounds, much more exciting plays, etc.
I’ve said this a million times, lower the rims and people will come. I’ll buy a ticket, 100%.
It works for women’s volleyball, it’s why it’s exciting and popular, now imagine them playing with men’s net.
I never will understand missing out on potential millions of dollars because they’re too “proud” to lower the rims.
Ironically if the rims were always lowered from the start, nobody’d be batting an eye today.
Basic economics. Supply and demand.
if people really cared about women being paid more they would watch the games, go to the games, buy merch. but nah its easier just to complain on the internet
What, 25 years of nagging and shaming potential fans hasn’t worked? I thought everyone would have dedicated their free time and money to the W by now
It’s an obvious point, and he’s not wrong. (I don’t often say that about this dude)
These threads really bring out some angry dudes with a bone to pick lol
He said nothing wrong and despite the massive amount of exposure the WNBA receives, it just hasn’t caught on.
This is a North American thing. Women’s soccer and cricket are profitable.
Reddit is the worst place in the world to have this discussion because far too many Redditors refuse to accept reality if it can’t fit into their worldviews.
There’s no conspiracy to keep women’s sports down. Women just don’t like sports as much as men do so they aren’t watching, and the quality of play is much lower in women’s sports so men aren’t watching.
I have a suggestion: make it legal to gamble on the WNBA, and *only* the WNBA. All of a sudden so much money would flow into the game they literally couldn’t spend it all.
Big beefy women yamming on lowered rims would definitely be more watchable.
[This Family Guy Clip is almost 17 years old](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDYyjOM3YdU)
WNBA already uses smaller balls, shorter 3pt lines..why is it so demeaning to lower the rims. No doubt these women are world class athletes but the WNBA is not letting them show off their athleticism.
Seriously watching a WNBA game is kinda a chore, it’s the same game over and over again.
Lower the rims make this shit fun to watch man it’s nothing against Women athletes
He’s right.