What Has Made Me Sad So Far This Season

Pretty much everything about the NBA is great ... until it isn't.

The NBA often reminds us of its greatness in ways beyond what is produced on the court. We find joy in league-altering trades, social media banter, the charitable and/or charismatic personalities of players off the court. And then, of course, the art they produce on the court.

But in the simplest of terms, NBA players are overworked in a job that hinges on physicality. They are young kids looked at under a microscope. They are criticized for the slightest mistakes.

The NBA rules, but as a fan, there is plenty to be upset about from an entertainment perspective as well as, you know, the human side of things.

1. Injuries and Load Management

This seems stupid because ... when would this not be on the list? I figured it would be better to group all of the impactful, hurt players into one bullet point. Gordon Hayward was returning to back to peak form. Kyle Lowry brushed off age concerns and was leading a still-elite Raptors squad. Marvin Bagley III was primed to take the next leap for the Kings. De'Aaron Fox, too. Khris Middleton was the perfect Robin to Giannis' batman. Zion Williamson's absence has been a blemish on the Pelicans' start. Blake Griffin is welcome back, but his mysterious 10-game absence was discouraging. Now I am even naming players who are playing! We are getting robbed of seeing basketball greats perform.

This comes amidst a heated debated over the merits of newly-labeled load management. Even Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke, rookies!, sat for the Grizzlies as they adjust to the rigors of NBA life. I am a proponent of a shortened season without back-to-backs. With a different schedule in place, hopefully this injury list can be even smaller

2. Suspensions

It is a good thing that the league is cracking down on players using outlawed performance enhancements. But it is a shame to see who is using them. Wilson Chandler was suspended before the season began, and would have been a solid rotation piece for the Nets. Deandre Ayton seemed poised to ascend even higher in his second year with the presently electric Suns. And John Collins was coming into form as one of the best leaping big men in the game.

All of their statements of course went something like "I'm sorry to the fans, I'm upset with myself, I had no idea it was banned." It's a shame that these players, especially young, emerging stars like Ayton and Collins, have to sit out.

3. The teams far below expectations

The Knicks: Yes, even the Knicks are below their already-low expectations. Steve Mills is apparently laying the groundwork for David Fizdale's ouster. Their filler free agents are subpar, Julius Randle is misused, and RJ Barrett is being run into the ground. This makes me sad.

The Kings: Sacramento is about to invest even more money to retain it's core in De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Marvin Bagley III. But they will need to take that leap soon for it to be worth it. But so far they have been playing well below where they should. This makes me sad.

The Warriors: I know, I know, everyone would like to see other teams beat the pulp out of Golden State after the past 5 years. I am not one of those people. The league is worse without Steph, Klay, and Draymond Green being assisted by those two. This makes me sad.

The Magic: Their defense had all the makings to be one of the best in NBA. It sort of has been. Their offense is so abysmal, and the promise of guys like Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon seems to be stunted. This makes me sad.

4. The NBA-China fiasco

It was an unfortunate situation at the peak of the media cycle, and it still lingers now. But nobody is talking about it, and it's apparent why. The basketball is actually here. Other news seems more important. This is still a relationship that is not mended, and it seems like the worst of this situation is still to come, we are just waiting for it to happen when it feels more "convenient." This makes me sad.