Hey idiot, once you sign a contract, ANYWHERE, you are bound by terms of that contract. What about signing a non-compete when you are in a management position at a company? Yep, our VP sure was a slave. She couldn't leave and go to a direct competitor. But I'm sure she was compensated quite a bit for that. And I was sure a slave when my final bonus was tied to fulfilling certain performance clauses and staying with the company until a certain date. How about that solar company that came out to offer their services? If I had signed a contract, I would have been "enslaved" by them, having to pay ONLY them for supplying electricity for 15 years. How about a contract with a cell phone company when you upgrade your phone? Yeah, I could have paid full-price for my IPhone 6. But I decided to sign a 2-yr contract instead. I gave up something ("enslaved" to Verizon for 2 years) but got something in return (a much cheaper price for the phone).
This "slave" thing is so hilarious. Players aren't torn from their families, chained and brought over to the US in the holds of a ship and sold in a marketplace. They aren't forced to labor and whipped if they don't. Players VOLUNTARILY sign contracts. In exchange for agreeing to play basketball for their "horrible" owner, they are paid 10x or more (even as a rookie) over what they could make in another profession. Oh yeah, for most that money is GUARANTEED for the life of the contract. And if they don't want to play in the NBA? They can negotiate a contract with any number of other leagues. Or, they don't HAVE to play basketball. At any time, Mr. Joe NBA can quit and become an accountant, salesperson, entrepreneur or garbage collector. He could stay in college for 4 years or quit to become a burger flipper or join the armed forces. If he's still under contract he can still quit basketball. No one is going to come after him, put him in chains, drag him back and force him to play for his "slave" owner. He won't get that GUARANTEED money, but he can go do anything else.