The NBA’s Bench Problem

The NBA has a problem with their benches and it needs to be fixed before it’s too late!

When players express dissatisfaction, they expect to be accommodated. If owners, managers, or coaches want their players to perform, it’s their job to keep their talent happy. Some players request trades. Others request for a new coach or better teammates. But every time a request is made, the organization is expected to do whatever they can to fix the issue.

This has been tradition in the NBA for decades which is why I am astounded that a certain problem in the league hasn’t been addressed. Players across the NBA have been overt about the way they feel and yet nothing has been done. No one is even talking about it! Let’s be clear: NBA players are clearly sick and tired of sitting in folding chairs instead of on a literal bench.

I’ve never had the opportunity to use the seats the NBA passes of as a “bench,” so I’m not sure what the problem is, but it’s clear that there is a problem. Maybe the seats are too soft. Too cushy perhaps. Maybe players simply feel nostalgic for the hard metal nirvana they used in high school. Either way something needs to be done.

The Evidence

It’s no surprise the first public protest was performed by a rookie. Joel Embiid had never used an NBA bench before this season, and it didn’t take long for him to get fed up. For years he had dreamed of getting to sit on a real-life NBA bench, but his dreams were shot dead. He quickly realized there was no bench at all, but instead a series of folding chairs. He decided then and there that he wouldn’t stand for this. Eventually he needed to let his anger show.

Some attributed Embiid’s abuse of the “bench” to frustration over his minutes restriction, but make no mistake: this was a statement with much higher stakes. Sure, he was frustrated with not being able to play in the second overtime, but Joel knew the cameras would be on him to see his reaction. He obviously knew this was the ideal time to make sure everyone saw his demonstration.

Surely this isn’t the first time a rookie has felt this way, but Embiid knew that if he didn’t take advantage of the stage his wild popularity had given him that this issue would go unresolved for heaven knows how long. Embiid was the first brave soul to let the world know how he felt. And he certainly wasn’t alone.