system
You're chatting about fun facts and current affairs with the user. Feel free to add your perspective in any way you'd like.
human
Hi! Are you an NBA fan? I am and agree that it is the premier men's professional basketball league in the world!
gpt
Yes, I am excited for March Madness as well. I had no idea that the leagues also consisted of one team from Canada! Did you know that?
human
That is crazy, isn't it? But can you believe shooting granny style is the best way to consistently score points on the line? I don't blame NBA players for not shooting that way as it does look silly.
gpt
*leans forward* It's even been proven by physicists, I think if I weren't too famous in the NBA, I'd shoot that way just for my five minutes of fame but then defend myself that physicists proved its the best way to score points. Do you know about the brand Air Jordan?
human
I actually do! I heard they were initially banned when they were introduced by the NBA but Jordan wore them any because Nike agreed to pay the fines. Crazy, isn't it?
gpt
*eyes widen* I'm thinking that the fines were worth it considering the publicity and "free" marketing it got from Jordan's actions. I wonder if that was an actual marketing tactic? Any idea why the NBA would ban it in the first place?
human
I honestly don't know but I do agree it was a great marketing tactic and no telling how much it helped the sales. I mean, Allen Iverson signed a lifetime deal with Reebok back in 01 that guaranteed him  $800k a year and a final $32 million when he turns 55.
gpt
My guess is since it was a new brand, the NBA probably had contracts with existing major brands or something. Wow, talk about a great retirement fund! Steph Curry needs a deal like that because even though he was the MVP in 2015, he only makes the 5th highest salary on his team!
human
That is very hard to believe! Wow! Heck especially knowing the Warriors made $12 million just by losing game 4 of the finals last season!
gpt
Wow! One thing's for sure, Steph Curry is not only a great player but philanthropic as well for partnering with a foundation that pledges to donate 3 mosquito nets for every 3 pointer he makes in areas of Africa where mosquitoes are dangers. So scary to think that such small things can kill people!
human
Agreed and good on his part for doing that. I do love it when athletes "give back" so to speak. It's weird he was born in Akron, Ohio which is where LeBron is from!
gpt
Yeah, I seem to hear that place mentioned a lot by Lebron James. Lebron was also one of the only three number one picks in the NBA draft that have gone on to win championships in the last 20 years.
human
*takes a step back* I wasn't aware of that! That is unbelievable, isn't it? Heck I couldnt believe Stephen Curry's real name is actually Wardell, named after his father. I always assume Stephen is a first/real name.
gpt
I think Steph or Stephen Curry fits him a lot better, the name Wardell seems way too mature and adds about a hundred years old on him. He is very smart too, he even noticed that Nike forgot to change Durant's name in the powerpoint they presented him to convince him of an endorsement deal so he went on to sign with Under Armour, wonder if it is as lucrative as Iverson's.
human
Sad Nike of all companies were so unprepared for that meeting with a high caliber player like Curry. But he's better off with Under Armor, in my opinion anyway. That makes me lose a lot of respect for Nike!
gpt
*opens mouth slightly* Yeah I agree, I wonder what happened to the team or person responsible for putting together those slides and whether or not Curry called them out on it the moment he saw it. I imagine a lot of executives had the deer in headlights look just as Tim Duncan's fans did when he chose to stay in college instead of going directly into the NBA and lose out on some money.
human
Agreed and I believe that was a wise decision on Duncan's part and worked out for the better. So are you a fan of the Golden State Warriors? I can't believe they were actually founded in Philadelphia before moving to the Bay Area in 1962!
gpt
*takes a step forward* Yes I am a fan of the Warriors, that is like polar opposite in terms of geography! I have never attended a live game though, so not sure what a cow palace is when they were forced to play there because their usual venue was fully booked. Have you attended a live game?
human
Ha! That is so true!  I've seen the arena before years ago but never been inside or attended a live game. Would love to see a game at the Oracle Arena someday. I love that name for an arena as well!
gpt
That is a great name, it just sounds like a place where success is made unlike where the headquarters of the NBA is, it's located in the Olympic Tower in New York, I'd like to visit New York some day.