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Celebrity Misbehavior in the NBA

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  • Todd D. Kendall

    (Clemson University, tkendal@clemson.edu)

Abstract

I compare and contrast theories of why NBA players misbehave on the court, then test them empirically. I find evidence that earnings are positively correlated with misbehavior and that both absolute and relative salary matter. For instance, a player who is highest paid on his team misbehaves roughly 7% more than one who is second-highest paid, even at the same salary level. This relative effect I interpret as due to lack of good substitutes for top players. I also find some evidence that personal preferences may be important in understanding misbehavior, but no evidence that immaturity or peer effects are important determinants of misbehavior in the NBA.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd D. Kendall, 2008. "Celebrity Misbehavior in the NBA," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 9(3), pages 231-249, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:9:y:2008:i:3:p:231-249
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002507301526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Gift & Ryan M. Rodenberg, 2014. "Napoleon Complex," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 15(5), pages 541-558, October.
    2. Mario Lackner & Hendrik Sonnabend, 2022. "The older the wiser? Determinants of misbehaviour in team contests," Economics working papers 2022-11, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.

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