Bathed in wealth and fame, NBA players are a generally arrogant lot used to getting their way. And when they don't, look out.
We are not just talking about the antics of superstars, such as LeBron James insulting Cleveland with 30 minutes of self-love in a television special announcing he was taking his talents to Miami.
Even the lowly Detroit Pistons have to suffer the spoiled immaturity of their employees.
On Friday, in what one Pistons official described as a players' revolt against their coach John Kuester, seven players missed or were late for practice prior to their game in Philadelphia. All were benched for game, and the Pistons used only six players.
This once-proud franchise is a mess. The embattled Kuester looks to be heading for unemployment, but he hardly deserved a public mutiny.
According to Yahoo Sports, Richard Hamilton, the Pistons guard, about a week prior to his banishment to the bench in January, berated Kuester "in a jarring and expletive-filled diatribe on the practice court … [bellowing] he had been a failure in his two seasons in Detroit, blown the opportunity the franchise afforded him and was nothing more than a career assistant coach".
Hamilton, who has barely shot 40 per cent the last two seasons, has two years and US$25 million (Dh91. 8m) left on his contract.
Enough stomping of the feet and holding your breath until someone finally notices just how upset you are. It is time to grow up, kids.
sports@thenational.ae