Disclaimer: with nothing going in sports thanks to ‘Da Rona’, I almost forgot how to write a rant of any kind, so please bear with me.
I’m not surprised to see Jalen Green, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, announcing yesterday that he is bypassing college basketball to join the G-League.
In fact, I’m surprised that we’re not seeing more top high school prospects doing this.
We’re talking about a reshaped NBA initiative that sources say will pay elite prospects over $500K and provide a one-year development program outside the G-League’s traditional team structure. Green, by the way, will be the first participant in this new initiative. He will more than likely be the first of many elite prospects to do this (McDonald’s All American Isaiah Todd, the No. 13 player in the 2020 ESPN 100, de-committed from Michigan this week to head to the G League as well).
This is a move where the NBA commish Adam Silver and G-League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim are looking to shape the G League into a more desirable destination for elite college prospects who do not want to have anything to do with college. Right now, the National Basketball League of Australia is that destination. Silver and Abdur-Rahim figure that if more resources are put into the G League in terms of salary and opportunity for prospects, the more elite college prospects it will attract.
With more elite prospects come more eye balls from fans, and with more eye balls come more media coverage (ESPN and Fox Sports, come on down!) — and with more media coverage come “MO’ MONEY, MO’ MONEY, MO’ MONEY!!!!”
By the way, there are going to be more people out there crying, “what about getting a college education?”
A few things. For one, these cries will be from college fans who want these young men to ball for their squads, so likely it’s not all about getting an education. Also, the overwhelming reason why kids go to college is to, get this, INCREASE THEIR EARNING POTENTIALS. Isn’t that what Green and other young men like him are looking to do for themselves as well?
I’ve always said that if you are sitting on a winning lottery ticket, your ass better cash that shit in. Same with this elite high school prospects. Why should they have to wait and play for free — for multi-millionaire coaches — for a year?
I’ll say this, if college basketball fans and the NCAA want to prevent more elite prospects from doing the same, the latter has to make going to college for a year or two more worthwhile. Do you really think these prospects will give up an opportunity to make six figures for some sweatsuits, headphones and some shoes for one year?
M-kay…
Categories: college basketball, NBA
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