Gary Parrish

I guess Blake Griffin didn't benefit at all by going to college for 2 years.  We don't know what type of pro he will be, but I'm guessing he'll a make about 2 boat loads more money than he would have had he came out last year.

and you forgot to mention Dwight, Lebron,Kobe, and Carmelo all played for Team USA in the Olympics.

Why is everyone busting on Kwame Brown?  So he is not a great NBA basketball player and has not contributed a thing to any team he plays for.  He is set to make 4 million dollars with an option for another four in a follow season in Detroit.  That is about 3.92 million more than I"ll make in the next two years.  All for not being very good at his chosen profession and I'm great at my job.

Happy to see that you reply back.  I take back what I said my apolgogy.  I do agree with what you wrote about gm waiting for them to be all-stars.  Lets face it if you were the Cavs you would of been upset to not get your pick the year you had the #1.  Although these high schoolers sould know that there going top 10.  Good to see your comments and in fact the glog is fact and interesting to see that many players with so little college.

>>Oh yes, I'm sure these guys are regretting the jump right now while they lounge around in their big homes with fancy cars in the garage. Please.

You obviously didn't read the SI article a month or so ago which pointed out that 70% of professional basketball players are broke within a year after their career is over.

Why is that?

Well, because they go from high school to the pros, or from a measly 1 year in college, and don't know squat about the real world. They have to get all the bling, and they have to get the posse, and if they don't make it not only is their basketball career over but the money they were given is long gone.

Will they return to college? How can they? No more scholaraship to pay for school, and how many of these guys have the smarts to get a scholarship based on their smarts? Not very many.

Granted, lots of college-educated people can't handle their money properly either....but when an 18-year old kid is suddenly exposed to the bright lights and big city, it is that much more likely that he'll go off the rails, get in wtih the wrong crowd, etc. and ruin his life.

You implied that for every Kobe, James, etc.. there are busts like"Sebastian Telfair's, Shaun Livingston, Kwame Brown, Darius Miles, etc "

Funny you picked these guys. I'd bet 80% of the NBA guys right now who didn't go to the NBA straight from high school wish they were in these guy's shoes. Oh yes, I'm sure these guys are regretting the jump right now while they lounge around in their big homes with fancy cars in the garage. Please.

The fact is, we all know Basketball is not like football. Kids CAN compete straight out of high school to the NBA. If the teams demand these players and willing to pay them big bucks whether the "experts" think they're ready or not is up to the kid.

Heck I've been following the NBA long enough to have read articles on the experts bashing Jermaine O'neal, Kendrick Perkins, Tracy McGrady, as BUSTS that should've went to college.

We're talking about fairness here. The NCAA and NBA is not fair to these kids and something is going on. I can't believe they're getting away with this practice of discrimination in America. Imagine being denied a job by some organization when the company wants to hire you? That job however, happens to pay very well. This is what we should focus on, not what's good for the NCAA or NBA. If the kids fail, at least they've made a few hundred thousands or can play overseas. If they don't get drafted, heck, they probably do not like school anyway.

Look at DeSagnia Diop, every "expert" said the guy is not ready and he will not make it. Last I remember, he's still in the league and making good money. Even had he not make it for long in the NBA, at least he would've been paid handsomely. That is the goal here. Making money and realizing a dream!

If a kid wants to make money, let him. If he fails, well he's 18, he can find other things to do with his life.

I just don't understand why people can't see this.

I applaud Sonny Vaccaro for advising the kids to go over seas.
Seriously, what is a one year education, NCAA exploitation, and risk being injured without making any money mean to the kid anyway??
Not every kid can afford another year of watching his family struggle financially.

What Sonny is doing is fighting against the unfair practices of the NCAA and NBA by letting them realize how ridilculous their rules are.
Now there's an option for the kids to make money if he doesn't like school. For every kid that goes from High School to Europe is another blow to the NCAA and NBA's injustice.

We're all trying to make it here in America and it's F'd up when a for profit entity think they know better than you about your capabilities.
The players I've mentioned can attest to how wrong these "experts" are a lot of times.

Seriously, name me a kid who didn't get drafted and is homeless or F'd up his life completely?

A great thread! This is what this site should be about.

I have read all arguments and here is a final thought- all positions have merit but to have Basketball AND College attendance linked (even if it is for one year) is best for all. I agree that too many high schoolers over rate their value. Let them go head to head with other high school standouts in the NCAA so they can accurately assess their chances. And Colleges benefit economically from having superstars in their midst even if it is for one or two years. So I am for the status quo.

Yes it holds back one or two players per year but I will waive that right if several hundred others planned on college back when they were kids.