NBA...would there be any strategic disadvantage, if your 13th man,

Coinstartled

were a woman?

Assuming that you are either a great, loaded team like Golden State and a crappy team like Phoenix. Assume that you sign a top WNBA player for a season.

13th player typically get a couple of minutes of cleanup time every few games. Can't see where #13 would have any real effect on a competitive game outcome. It would be a great PR move for the NBA as the NFL flounders.

Before responding, give me a moment to duck behind the sofa.

Brick

An NBA team has drafted a female player before. I'm not sure a star WNBA player would want to sit at the end of the bench. She would want to compete. A journeywoman player may want the job and the pay raise.

DIMEMAN

No comment.

SanctionII

Google Anne Meyers.

Coinstartled

@SanctionII said:
Google Anne Meyers.

I recall the signing of a woman. Couldn't recall if was Meyer's or Cheryl Miller. Meyers never made the lineup.

Coinstartled

@Brick said:
An NBA team has drafted a female player before. I'm not sure a star WNBA player would want to sit at the end of the bench. She would want to compete. A journeywoman player may want the job and the pay raise.

Good point, Brick.

erikthredd

Teams in the NBA only have 12 active players for each game not 13 also there would be a problem with the female player,who has used a woman's basketball her entire life,now using a larger basketball. That being said,I think there would be quite a few WNBA players over the years who can actually hang with the NBA players even though they don't have the athleticism & physicality that the men do. Lisa Leslie,Diana Taurasi,Sheryl Swoopes,Maya Moore & Sue Bird are just a handful off the top of my head. If you believe Reggie Miller,his sister Cheryl was a better shooter than him.
Also the majority of WNBA players are more fundamentally sound on a basketball court with most playing 3-4 years in college at a top level program compared to players sitting at the end of an NBA bench who many are one year removed from high school.