am I crazy for thinking this article is pretty much BS? i completely understand a player deciding to return to college, for various legitimate reasons (hopes to improve game, wants to win championships, wants to mature, enjoys college life) but the over-the-top praise is just too much for me.
And this beyond all things makes me laugh in an article written that espouses the "wisdom" of these young men "who see a very big picture, and it's in clear focus"
quote:What makes it "wise beyond your years" to return to school if you are a legit top-3 pick? What makes it "smart" for future prospects to follow their lead?
The fact that Sullinger, Jones and Barnes have decided to stay in school doesn't make them better people than the underclassmen who opted for the draft, but it does reveal a wisdom well beyond their years. If they end up having long and lucrative NBA careers, nobody will ask them why they chose such unconventional paths. The only question will be how many young players have been smart enough to follow.
quote:How exactly can one determine that entering the draft early costs a player in the long-term? Just because a player leaves early, gets drafted on potential, but then struggles to find playing time doesn't mean another year or 2 in college would have helped his long-term outlook. I would argue that, more often than not, entering the draft and collecting massive paychecks while you are still considered a prospect is a much smarter financial decision than sticking around the college game and exposing your true abilities which might hurt your stock. Or is a bird-in-the-hand not worth more than 2-in-the-bush?
Nowadays, college is often viewed as a quick launching pad to NBA riches, but recent history suggests that players can cost themselves in the long term by rushing to grab the short-term loot.
And this beyond all things makes me laugh in an article written that espouses the "wisdom" of these young men "who see a very big picture, and it's in clear focus"
quote:Seriously? We're giving props to the would-be #1 pick who doesn't realize that the sport that has the potential to make him $100 million over his lifetime is under the threat of a lock-out? How does this show wisdom or maturity?
As for the lockout, Sullinger told me that he didn't even know about it until earlier that day. "I kid you not," he said. "I just found out about the lockout two hours ago when a professor came up and told me about it."