NBA Players: Get a job!

The way the NBPA is spinning things, the NBA is taking away the players’ chance to make a living. The argument is that when the league shuts them out, they have no way to earn an income. They also say the league wants to illegally limit their earning power.

I don’t know a ton about antitrust, but I know a little about earning a living. The league isn’t telling the players what they must do. It’s just saying if they don’t like the pay, find a better job. They can go to Europe, South America, Australia. Or how about a complete career change?

For the benefit of out-of-work NBAers, I’ve compiled a list of professions (outside of sports) that they can compare to their average of $5.15 million per year:

Megastar actor: Johnny Depp made $75 million in 2010, Ben Stiller $53 million, Leonardo DiCaprio $50 million. But judging by Shaquille O’Neal’s acting career…

Computer genius: Steve Jobs owned billions in stocks and bonuses, but charged Apple just $1 a year. So maybe that’s out.

Anesthesiologist: $166,000 a year. OK, it’s 3 percent of what the average NBA player makes, so they’d have to tighten the belt a bit.

Air traffic controller: $108,000. Would you want Metta World Peace landing your plane?

Even if the league forced NBA players to take a 50 percent pay cut, the average internist still only makes 7 percent of that.

You get the idea.

There are basically no jobs that pay better than the NBA. And you don’t even need a college degree.

But hey, if the players don’t like the terms, it’s a free country.