Reaction To NBA Star Michael Porter Jr.'s WNBA Pay Comments Shows How Out Of Touch People Are On This Issue

Denver Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr. provided a perfectly sensible perspective on the pay discrepancy between NBA and WNBA players.

Speaking on "The Pivot" podcast, Porter Jr. highlighted how the WNBA does not draw as big an audience as the NBA. As such, female professional basketball players earn far less than their male counterparts.

"As much as I understand females wanting the same treatment as men basketball players, it's a different sport. They are not packing out the arenas, obviously their TV deals aren't the same," Porter Jr. said. "As much (as) I advocate for women and the quality of the respect of their craft and all those things, you can't pay them the same thing, you know? But I do feel like there should be a little way to make a little bit more money because they are very talented."

Now what’s wrong with that portion of his monologue? All he did was state the obvious facts of the situation, and avoided being disrespectful.

Nevertheless, lots of people took time out of their day to ridicule Porter Jr. for his comments.

WNBA Players Want A Higher Share Of The League's Revenue

Porter Jr. made the point that you can't provide WNBA players with similar salaries to what NBA superstars make. Ironically, most WNBA players agree with this.

Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum noted that if you made the salaries equal, the WNBA would go bankrupt. However, Plum wants all female pros to get an equal revenue split with the NBA.

"I don’t think I should get paid the same as LeBron," Plum said. "But the percentage of revenue — like for example: they sell my jersey in Mandalay Bay, I don’t get a dime. So that’s the stuff we’re talking about."

So this might be the alternative method Porter Jr. was talking about, and Plum might have a point. Shouldn’t WNBA players make money off of their jersey sales?

It’s not as easy as that. If you follow the money, it all makes sense.

WNBA Players Don't Earn A Lot Of Revenue Because It's A Risky Investment For The NBA

The NBA subsidizes the WNBA and basically ensures that it will exist from year to year. Good thing too, since NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated in 2018 that the league lost an average of $10 million each year. Those numbers have improved since then, but not by much.

To ensure that its losses aren’t too bad, the NBA made a deal with the WNBA. All WNBA players can earn some of the league’s revenue, but with a catch.

The WNBA cannot share revenue with players until it reaches a revenue target set before each season. After that is reached, the WNBA gets a 50-50 split with the NBA.

Here’s an example with simple numbers. If the NBA says the WNBA must earn $100 in revenue during the year, the NBA receives all of that money to cover its risky investment. This is a separate amount from the player's salaries.

Sep 7, 2018; Seattle, WA, USA; The WNBA logo on a ball during the fourth quarter of game one of the WNBA finals between the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

If however, the WNBA makes $200 that year, the numbers change. The WNBA splits that extra $100 with the NBA for $50 apiece, and then the WNBA shares its $50 with the players.

Frankly, given the financial nightmare that is the WNBA, this is a fair arrangement. It’s not often a major business that always operates in the red gets this level of funding from anybody.

Now, if WNBA players can have more opportunities to earn some extra cash, that’s all fine. Porter Jr. made a valid point that the WNBA should be allowed to find other ways to make money outside of playing, just like any other professional athlete. 

But Plum and everyone who claims the current arrangement is unfair needs to understand one clear reality.

The WNBA would cease to exist without the NBA. That would create a pay gap no female pro basketball player would want.