Not so long ago, NBA Commissioner David Stern ruled the league with an iron fist. Following the Allen Iverson frenzy, he even set up a dress code to make sure the players looked like professionals instead of hip-hop artists.
The players didn’t have to deal with a 24/7 news cycle because social media wasn’t a big thing — or even a thing. But they had to comply with Stern’s long set of policies.
With that in mind, Syracuse-bound Kiyan Anthony asked his father, Carmelo, whether he thinks the players have more freedom now and how it may have affected his game.
Carmelo Anthony says players have more freedom now
“Do you ever look at the way people in my generation post and be like, ‘Damn, I wish I had that freedom,’ or do you think it would mess you up in a game?“ Kiyan responded.
“There were some things that couldn’t have been posted at that time. It was problems with how we dress; it was problems with how we walk; it was problems with how we talk,” Carmelo said. “So if you posted a video of doing something that y’all are allowed to post today, you would have been out of the league in that point in time. Early!”
Commissioner David Stern kept the players on a short leash, and even Anthony admitted that he used to reach out to him to let him know everything he was up to, including who he was hanging out with. The game has changed, and so has the world.