NBA: Are new tampering rules any more enforceable?

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Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images /

How we got here

The first name that comes to mind regarding tampering is LeBron James. A straight-up force from the minute he donned an NBA jersey, James has done enough on the court alone to change how we think about the league.

Off the court, James changed arguably even more about the league. Using his power and influence from basketball alone, he maneuvered his way out of Cleveland to build a superteam in Miami in the summer of 2010. He painted this picture over several seasons, mainly using the 2006 FIBA World Championships as a means of networking with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

It took a few seasons for others to catch on. Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City in the summer of 2016 to join a team already brimming with Hall of Fame talent. His arrival in Golden State had been a topic for the entire season leading up to July 1, with the Warriors’ stars in constant contact with him throughout.

The following summer, the plot thickened. Many players saw the writing on the wall in their existing situations, and forced their ways to superior teams. Paul George told Indiana he refused to re-sign and was traded to Oklahoma City. Chris Paul had seen enough of the Clippers’ Lob City quartet and forced his way to Houston.

Kawhi Leonard sat out most of 2017-18 because he didn’t approve of San Antonio’s setup.

Part of it came from teams wanting to compete with Golden State’s Monstars squad and part of it was the players emitting their power. But a huge conductor of the former factor is the threat of players leaving their incumbent teams when free agency hits. Ultimately, the players run the show.

The definition and application of the rule resurfaced this winter when Anthony Davis and his agent demanded a trade to one team and one team only. James buttressed this demand with some very positive comments about Davis, bringing into question just how legitimate the NBA’s tampering rules really are.

These events were not the tipping point, but rather an omen for things to come.