Imagine an NBA with English-only speaking players.
Imagine the Lakers without their foreign players.
Vlade Divac would not have been a Laker nor would have Slava Medvedenko. Even newly-signed Lakers guard Sun Yue of China might not have been given a chance had the NBA adopted the same rules as the LPGA is toying with.
The women’s golf association is contemplating instituting a rule that would require all golfers to speak English or face suspension.
NBA players, like other professional athletes (e.g. Major League Baseball players) have had paid interpreters help navigate them through their first few years in the big leagues.
Given the Lakers’ sudden influx of foreigners – Pau Gasol, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic, Sun – the locker room would be a quieter spot if the NBA followed the LPGA.
