The Miami Heat are just coming off a second straight title
run, and with a team that will likely remain unchanged, there needs to be
something that will spice up the locker room.
Not something that will potentially break team chemistry such as
attempting to increase drastically through trades, but a true challenge:
rewrite the script on NBA teams, shake up the league and take some heat off the
“big 3” as they arrive at their contract opt-out. The answer? Brittney Griner! The polarizing,
record breaking, slam dunking, 6’8’’ #1 pick in the WNBA draft, and there are
more than those basic reasons to add her to the squad.
The ability to train
with the best
We can all agree that LeBron James is the best basketball
player in the world, and with the WNBA offseason nestled neatly in the confines
of the NBA regular season, being a part of the big league squad will help
Griner immensely when it’s time to head back to Phoenix. Griner has already shown many signs of her
willingness to be dominant, including throwing down two dunks in her first pro
game, tying a WNBA record for dunks in a career, and setting the record for
dunks in a game. LeBron, at the absolute
peak of his physical dominance would be able to help Griner grow in this category.
It's an
unprecedented move
Nothing like this has ever been achieved in the NBA let
alone any pro sports. The Miami Heat,
for the past three years, have been heavily scrutinized and for good
reason. They are the most polarizing
team in the NBA with the best player in the world. This team is going to be the talk of the
twitter world no matter what they do, why not really shake things up and add a
new story line? The Miami Heat, and specifically the “Big 3” of James, Wade and
Bosh will receive the most publicity because of their upcoming chance to
opt-out of their current contracts. One year
in advance and LeBron is apparently already packing his bags for Los Angeles, Cleveland,
and he’s staying in Miami. At least with
Griner around there will be other news for ESPN to go on about besides LeBron’s
impending free agency.
Breaking sexual
barriers
With Jason Collins stepping up to the plate and coming out
publicly as gay there is at least one semi current NBA player that is
homosexual, though Collins is currently not signed for the 2013-14 season. Griner not only brings the female aspect into
the NBA, but she is also openly lesbian, and no-she isn’t afraid to say
it. Griner has openly embraced and has
publicly expressed her homosexuality and with the NBA’s initiative to embrace
and accept people of all kinds, Griner would be an excellent ambassador for
this message. She and dreadlock mate
Kenneth Faried, who is a member of the Athlete Ally program that supports
rights for the LGBT community, would be willing representatives for the league.
She’s a great
athlete..not that she’ll actually play
Yes, Griner has the potential to be a garbage-time hero on a
team that is prone to blow-outs, and yes the Heat have an extra roster spot as
of now, but that’s not the only reason she should make the roster. Griners elevated skills are enough to be a
capable practice and training camp challenge, especially if she hits the weight
room. The post offense and defense that
LeBron can teach her will make her a formidable challenge, at least to such
smaller players as Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Griner can play, it’s risky- but all she
needs is a chance.
This is the third in a series of many NBA related articles;
Follow me on Twitter @JordanNedlin for constant updates and other NBA bits.
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