--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing wrong with the NBA - or…" description: "\"The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other professional sport, for that matter - is a wild epidemic of Dumbness and overweening Greed. There is n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/hunter-s-thompson-278_change_the-only-thing-wrong-with-the-nba-or-any_2011648.jpg" --- # The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other… ![“The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other professional sport, for that matter - is a wild epidemic of Dumbness and overweening Greed. There is no Mystery about it, and no need to change any rules.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/hunter-s-thompson-278_change_the-only-thing-wrong-with-the-nba-or-any_2011648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/hunter-s-thompson-278_change_the-only-thing-wrong-with-the-nba-or-any_2011648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/hunter-s-thompson-278_change_the-only-thing-wrong-with-the-nba-or-any_2011648.jpg) > “The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other professional sport, for that matter - is a wild epidemic of Dumbness and overweening Greed. There is no Mystery about it, and no need to change any rules.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional sports suffer from excessive ego and greed, undermining genuine competition and enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Sports are corrupted by selfishness and greed. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over profit. Themes sports ethics greed ego competition Mood cynical critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - team management - league policy - fan engagement - player contracts Key Concepts Commercialization masculinity spectatorship Questions to Reflect On - How can leagues foster humility? - What incentives reduce greed? A Different Perspective Even with rule changes, cultural attitudes may sustain the problem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Dumbness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumbness/) [Epidemics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epidemics/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Nba Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-professional-451342/) [Need a change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-a-change/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Overweening Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overweening-greed-3595018/) [Professional Sport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-sport-548786/) [Professional sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-sports/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Sport Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sport-matter-2060429/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Wrong Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-nba-3595017/) ## Related quotes > [That's the NBA and professional sports. You have to take care of business when you have the chance and if you don't you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/that-s-the-nba-and-professional-sports-you-have-to-take-care-of/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [All golfers fear the one-iron. It has no angle, no loft. The one-iron is a confidence-crusher, a fear trip, an almost guarantee of shame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/all-golfers-fear-the-one-iron-it-has-no-angle-no-loft-the-one-iron-is/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The downward spiral of Dumbness in America is about to hit a new low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-downward-spiral-of-dumbness-in-america-is-about-to-hit-a-new-low/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [It's intense in every sport. No matter what, USC vs. UCLA is crazy. Especially when it comes down to football and basketball, it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akeem-ayers/it-s-intense-in-every-sport-no-matter-what-usc-vs-ucla-is-crazy/) [Akeem Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akeem-ayers/) > [Kids of this day and age know you don't necessarily have to specialize in one sport no matter how much society and your coaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/kids-of-this-day-and-age-know-you-don-t-necessarily-have-to/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [There's going to be wear and tear on your body; that's just the nature of the sport, no matter if you're a rookie or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/there-s-going-to-be-wear-and-tear-on-your-body-that-s-just-the-nature/) [Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/) > [“Never make sport, no matter how lighthearted, of someone’s vocation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ross/never-make-sport-no-matter-how-lighthearted-of-someone-s-vocation/) [Rodney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ross/) > [I think those rings and those moments where your best player steps up, it leads and carries and brings everyone else around you. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-think-those-rings-and-those-moments-where-your-best-player-steps-up/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [Nobody likes a bad sport, no matter what the circumstances are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/nobody-likes-a-bad-sport-no-matter-what-the-circumstances-are/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [Wouldn't anyone want to take a job in a professional sport in one of the biggest sports in the world and only give 50,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-tomic/wouldn-t-anyone-want-to-take-a-job-in-a-professional-sport-in-one-of/) [Bernard Tomic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-tomic/) > [Anyone who plays professional sport for a living is extremely lucky, and that's my overriding feeling - I believe I have the best job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/anyone-who-plays-professional-sport-for-a-living-is-extremely-lucky/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [The one thing about professional sport is it's all about results, and at the end of the day, if someone is employing you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-cook/the-one-thing-about-professional-sport-is-it-s-all-about-results-and/) [Alastair Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-cook/) > [Everybody that has ever played a professional sport would like to go out on their terms and very few get to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pronger/everybody-that-has-ever-played-a-professional-sport-would-like-to-go/) [Chris Pronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pronger/) > [Playing in a competition like the Champions League is important for a player; it makes you feel much more of a professional in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/playing-in-a-competition-like-the-champions-league-is-important-for-a/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [People treat us and they put us on this pedestal like we're so much better human beings than them because we play a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/people-treat-us-and-they-put-us-on-this-pedestal-like-we-re-so-much/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other professional sport, for that matter - is a wild epidemic of Dumbness and overweening Greed. 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