A woman in the NBA?

[Wheat/"/"/"]

Here is an article that I thought was interesting and ripe for discussion.

Basically, the question is can a woman play in the NBA?

My thought is it is possible in the future, although I have not seen a female player yet that I thought could make it.

One thing I am sure of, it will not be a frontcourt player. Just too physical down low for women.

PG is the only position I think is ever likely to break the barrier.

[JaMarcus Russell]

I just don't see it ever happening. If Candace Parker played against men, how good would she be? I am guessing that she would be a good reserve on a mid-major team like Iona. I don't see too many rotation players from Iona in the NBA.

[CameronBornAndBred]

As much as I wish it were possible, I say no and here's why..
Think of all of the guys at Duke who we thought (or thought themselves) could make it in the NBA and didn't. This includes a short recent list of those such as Daniel Ewing, Sean Dockery, and DeMarcus Nelson. Nelson is a real good example. I can't think of any woman who is more athletic, quicker, has more basketball smarts and ability than Nelson. ("More" is a key word) He was given an incredible shot, played for 2 NBA teams, and in the NBADL, and yet still was not able to play in the league. His height is comparable to the taller women. Since a woman would have to perform BETTER than DeMarcus to earn a roster position, I just don't see it. The only way it happens is if an owner wants to sell tickets.

[Greg_Newton]

I definitely don't see this ever happening. I knew guys in school that were on the women's practice squad that weren't near good enough to even make the men's club team. The degree of separation is pretty huge, IMO.

[Wheat/"/"/"]

I'm not so quick to say never, although I agree its off on the horizon.

She'd have to have exceptional court vision...Jason Kidd court vision...not to mention handle it like Muggsy, and shoot it like Kerr.

That's not asking for much, is it?

[Acymetric]

I know this isn't a measurement of basketball skills, but how many NBA players can't dunk in any capacity, whether in-game or just messing around by themselves in a gym? How many female guards can do this? Thats a pretty big athletic disadvantage to overcome. Women are also legitimately slower than men, as evidenced by race times for men and women in track. I just can't see it ever. The Michael Jordan of womens basketball could probably make a team, but would be the last (wo)man off the bench, or close to it.

That said, women's basketball is fun to watch, I'm certainly not trying to knock female basketball players or athletes here. Facts is facts.

[FireOgilvie]

There would be so many media/locker room/other distractions, a woman in the NBA seems like a bad idea even if there was one that could compete.

[Wheat/"/"/"]

... but how many NBA players can't dunk in any capacity...

If the NBA wasn't a team game and went solely on individual skills, I'd agree, no way a woman could compete physically.

But I also saw Muggsy Bogues play in the NBA for 14 seasons at 5'3" 136 lbs, and play well.

Muggsy was unique, I know, but women players are getting more athletic all the time, and I won't rule out that a once in a liftime talent could come along some day and make a roster to play a specific role.

[JaMarcus Russell]

The Michael Jordan of womens basketball could probably make a team, but would be the last (wo)man off the bench, or close to it.

That's pretty much what Candace Parker is right? And I doubt she could start for a single D-1 basketball team.

[Acymetric]

That's pretty much what Candace Parker is right? And I doubt she could start for a single D-1 basketball team.

I'm not sure thats true...there are a lot of bad, bad D-1 teams out there. Over 300, I forget the number. I'm also not sure Candace is to women's basketball what MJ was to men's...at least at this point.

[BlueintheFace]

The only way I could see it was a woman sharpshooter with incredible range who could come in when the team is down late or in need of a large comeback. She'd have to (a) be subbed offense for defense if possible, or (b) be lightning quick in order to keep up with the opposing team's PG/SG.

Basically, its not happening unless it is a publicity stunt.

[JaMarcus Russell]

The very best players on the women's practice team were guys who had offers from very small D-1 programs or "offers" from academically oriented D-3 schools like Middlebury, and they played very close games with a top 5 women's team that featured Alana Beard.

[Poincaré]

One point that is being ignored here: Isn't the women's ball smaller than the men's ball? First of all, let us admit that if a woman could have an advantage over a man in the NBA, it is not defense. A woman's shooting, ball-handling, rebounding, passing, catching would all suffer with a bigger ball. That is before we begin to account for the difference in playing against men. I think David Stern is just trying to advertise the WNBA with his statement rather than making an honest assessment.

[DukeUsul]

I'm not so quick to say never, although I agree its off on the horizon.

She'd have to have exceptional court vision...Jason Kidd court vision...not to mention handle it like Muggsy, and shoot it like Kerr.

That's not asking for much, is it?

Actually, I think these are the kinds of things it'd be easy for a woman to be able to compete on - I don't think court vision, handle or shooting skill would depend at all on sex. The areas where, on average, women are at a disadvantage would be other things like strength, speed, jumping ability and size. So I think it would be a while before we see a woman player who could break down NBA wings off the dribble and take it to the rack. But a woman who's 6'2" with a good handle who can shoot the three? Why not?

[Acymetric]

Actually, I think these are the kinds of things it'd be easy for a woman to be able to compete on - I don't think court vision, handle or shooting skill would depend at all on sex. The areas where, on average, women are at a disadvantage would be other things like strength, speed, jumping ability and size. So I think it would be a while before we see a woman player who could break down NBA wings off the dribble and take it to the rack. But a woman who's 6'2" with a good handle who can shoot the three? Why not?

Because chances are there's a guy who's 6'2 with a good handle who can shoot the three who is also more effective getting to the rack and can keep up on defense. I'm not saying it can't happen, but I would be surprised. People mention women getting more athletic, but so are the men...is the gap closing? Maybe.

[phaedrus]

But a woman who's 6'2" with a good handle who can shoot the three? Why not?

Because there are thousands of males that meet those criteria. They don't make the NBA. Some of them don't even make it to college ball. There is a minimum baseline of - and I hate to use a recent Duke-related buzzword - athleticism you need to be an elite basketball player, even if your basketball fundamentals are off the charts. You just can't compete, offensively or defensively, otherwise.

I think a woman in the NBA would need to be either as good a shooter as there is in the league or as good a point guard (fundamentally) as there is in the league, plus be an absolute athletic marvel - a Lebron-level athletic marvel, too, not just an MJ-level athletic marvel.

[Wheat/"/"/"]

Because there are thousands of males that meet those criteria. They don't make the NBA. Some of them don't even make it to college ball. There is a minimum baseline of - and I hate to use a recent Duke-related buzzword - athleticism you need to be an elite basketball player, even if your basketball fundamentals are off the charts. You just can't compete, offensively or defensively, otherwise.

I think a woman in the NBA would need to be either as good a shooter as there is in the league or as good a point guard (fundamentally) as there is in the league, plus be an absolute athletic marvel - a Lebron-level athletic marvel, too, not just an MJ-level athletic marvel.

I'm not so sure it wouldn't be possible for a woman with exceptional court vision to make up for the difference in athleticism.

She'd still have to be the top woman athlete, and a sick shooter and ballhandler.

[CDu]

I'm not so sure it wouldn't be possible for a woman with exceptional court vision to make up for the difference in athleticism.

She'd still have to be the top woman athlete, and a sick shooter and ballhandler.

It's not impossible, but I'd say it's REALLY unlikely. She'd have to be quick/fast/strong enough to stay on the floor defensively, which is asking a lot. She'd also have to be quick/fast/strong enough that her skillset wouldn't be completely overwhelmed by the size/strength/speed/quickness/leaping ability of her opponents. And even then, she'd have to beat out the thousands of other fantastic players who are just on the cusp of making the NBA.

It's not just the athleticism, it's the combination of the size difference AND the athleticism difference. A 5'8" female with Jason Kidd-like vision would still struggle with having to play against guys who were typically 6 inches taller AND more athletic. She'd have to have unbelievable skills to overcome that difference, in my opinion.

Could it happen? I guess almost anything is possible. But I'd say the probability of it happening is very very close to zero.

[Wheat/"/"/"]

Phil Jackson doesn't seem to think it's likely...

[brevity]

It could happen.

The problem is that she'd have to be trained with that goal in mind from the first time she picks up a ball. Not just to play basketball, or college basketball, or even professional basketball, but NBA basketball. Assuming she's of size to play in the NBA (realistically, 5'11" or taller), she'd have to disregard everything she's told by others about what a person her size should be expected to do.

It would have to a combination of many unlikely things: a focused and well-adjusted individual, supportive and visionary parents, open-minded coaches at all stages of development, deep pockets, and oh yeah, timely genetics.

Had Candace Parker been steered in this exact direction 15 years ago, then I wouldn't automatically rule out her chances. Her parents obviously know how to develop a child into an NBA-caliber adult player. But it was enough for her to be able to play with the boys, and dunk with the boys, all in an effort to allow her to excel in a woman's game. (An unbelievable accomplishment, mind you, but well short of the hypothetical we're discussing here.)

Now, should she steer a Parker-Williams daughter in this direction? A fair question. That girl would have the above combination of favorable elements, but her parents would have to ask themselves whether becoming a pioneer player for her gender is a goal worth the extra pain, grief, and pressure it's sure to cause. They'd be making that decision for her until she's old enough to decide for herself. Plus, it's so unlikely to make the league as it is, and so much more likely to be derailed along the way by career-ending injuries, even if every observer, teammate, and opponent were rooting for her.

Make no mistake: women will, in time, break into male-only sporting competitions. Golf and tennis (on a regular touring basis) is all but inevitable; politics is probably a bigger barrier than athletic ability. It's not too much of a reach to see the same happen in soccer, hockey, or even baseball. I think the last milestones will be in track and field, the NBA, and non-kicker NFL.