James Bouknight Released

[Duncan Idaho]

60% of NBA players are broke within 5 years of leaving the league. Hard to imagine Bouk being financially responsible.

Yeah, I read that the numbers aren't good. Thinking as I was typing if he could keep 5MM of what he has made, an investment black box could still generate a pretty good income...but as you said.

 

[Ricker]

Thread title "James Bouknight Released", I opened thread to find out what he was arrested for this time. Being 'Released by the team' was actually a better spin. Were there consequences for that disturbing incident drunk with a gun et al? Or did he just find a way to slide out of real repercussions again?

 

[Fatroony5]

Really disappointing career for him. I live in charlotte and knew a lot of people over there with the Hornets under Borrego, things went bad to start, literally at summer league. That “call” from MJ was an indictment and owner involvement about off court issues at summer league, that’s what I was told anyway. There’s a ton more that went down but don’t really need to put it out on blast, much is well documented. Wish him well in his next steps whatever that is, maybe he gets another shot and turns it around, who knows. Just goes to show: NBA is a brutal business and most guys can’t just get by on talent. Need the passion & drive to move your career forward.

 

[tzznandrew]

Dragged them down? They were barely competitive as it was

They were a 5 seed that lost because a 24 year old and some bums got incredibly hot from 3. It was a real fluky game against a team that UConn beats 8 out of 10 times. It was absolutely a team that could have gone south from Bouknight.

Regardless, he got paid, and another year of UConn probably wasn't helping his maturity nor his draft position. What might have helped his draft position was a better franchise drafting him.

 

[GlastonTim]

Hardly sirprising and YES @navery12, he should have come back.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have that option

 

[CTBasketball]

They were a 5 seed that lost because a 24 year old and some bums got incredibly hot from 3. It was a real fluky game against a team that UConn beats 8 out of 10 times. It was absolutely a team that could have gone south from Bouknight.

Regardless, he got paid, and another year of UConn probably wasn't helping his maturity nor his draft position. What might have helped his draft position was a better franchise drafting him.

A fool and his money are soon parted. Needed to change the fool part before the money part.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Unfortunately, another example of wasted talent. Hopefully James can turn things around.

 

[J187Money]

Yeah, I read that the numbers aren't good. Thinking as I was typing if he could keep 5MM of what he has made, an investment black box could still generate a pretty good income...but as you said.

13.1 is pre tax. So he keeps 7 at most? Hard to believe he would still have 5. But I have no idea how he lives.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Forget about another NBA opportunity, Europe, China or anywhere else. Bouk needs unlimited one-on-one sessions with Maurice Clarett and separately with a really good therapist. Methinks there are some serious underlying issues that need to be resolved before he can successfully navigate life.

 

[whosurdaddy2720]

Bigger NBA disappointment, Thabeet or Bouknight?

Thabeet was obviously drafted much higher but I personally thought he’d struggle in the pros due to rumblings I had heard about his personality and work ethic.

Bouk was drafted lower but he seemed to be oozing with talent as he was leaving UConn. I genuinely thought he’d explode at the next level.

 

[willie99]

Let's hope he's a late bloomer. Let's hope someone or something can give him a kickstart. At this point, I'm concerned this is more about James. Either his attitude or his effort or his talent more so than about his opportunity

Hopefully he can play for pay somewhere. Godspeed James, just do it.

 

[businesslawyer]

My bad. Got them mixed up. Thought I heard gaff was showing higher at one point or maybe he just had a good showing at summer league venues. Bouk was clearly better obviously. Akok was in that class too. Maybe Danny’s “class that could’ve been”.

That wasn’t a “class that could’a been.” Bouknight was outstanding here and helped us grow from the awful team Hurley inherited to where we are now. Just like Drummond having a long NBA career doesn’t change the fact that he accomplished little while here, Bouk flaming out in the NBA doesn’t change the fact that he had a large part in pushing our rock up the mountain.

 

[Chin Diesel]

13.1 is pre tax. So he keeps 7 at most? Hard to believe he would still have 5. But I have no idea how he lives.

If he is fortunate enough to have $2M, invest that with $7.5%, and that's $150k a year without touching principle.
That's a nice cushion along with any other income he may earn.
Unfortunately I don't have a good feeling he has that much squirreled away.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Unfortunate for Bouknight. I'm not going to pretend that as a fan of his college team I have some insight into what went wrong. We can all speculate, but I don't know what caused it. I hope he has another opportunity and finds a way to make the most of it.

 

[Huskybass]

Unfortunate for Bouknight. I'm not going to pretend that as a fan of his college team I have some insight into what went wrong. We can all speculate, but I don't know what caused it. I hope he has another opportunity and finds a way to make the most of it.

Insight? You don't need insight to know that bad decisions have been the norm for Bouknight. Immense talent, completely wasted.

 

[JohnFSilver]

People saying G League, when he was assigned G Leavue he played like a dog.

Bouknight should go to China. Maybe he can make a ton of money. I think G League isn’t going to want a part of them unless they feel they have a system that can support him.

 

[AdamaNation]

At every turn, I feel as emotionally uncomfortable reading the comments in this thread as I do reading about James Bouknight.

I feel disappointed, sad, angry, frustrated, powerless, embarrassed, judgmental, critical, and more. I don't know if that's an indictment of Bouknight, this thread, myself, the human condition, some combination of the above, or if more properly it's a call for humility and compassion when faced with a darkly reflective mirror.

In case you didn’t know it ….. you my friend, are a poet..

 

[Deleted at users request]

Feel like the only places that could save him would be San Antonio and maybe Miami.

The culture in Miami is amazing, would just worry about Bouk being in the city of Miami as is.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

If he is fortunate enough to have $2M, invest that with $7.5%, and that's $150k a year without touching principle.
That's a nice cushion along with any other income he may earn.
Unfortunately I don't have a good feeling he has that much squirreled away.

He actually qualified for a pension{minimum} and maybe other retirement bennies. The point was there should have been enough left allowing to generate at least a decent supplementary income but confidence in that does not appear high.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Feel like the only places that could save him would be San Antonio and maybe Miami.

The culture in Miami is amazing, would just worry about Bouk being in the city of Miami as is.

Are you crazy? Bouknight in Miami? Heat culture is because they don’t bring in guys who are going to be obsessed with Miami.

That’s the worst place for a young kid. San Antonio won’t put up wit him. He has to prove he can be a professional.

He has not proven that yet. 2 1/2 years later and no one knows if he has what it takes to play at this level. Talent? Yes. Drive and maturity and professionalism. He is going to have to show it. Hopefully a team picks him up at end of season and tries to catch lightning in a bottle.

 

[Tenspro2002]

That wasn’t a “class that could’a been.” Bouknight was outstanding here and helped us grow from the awful team Hurley inherited to where we are now. Just like Drummond having a long NBA career doesn’t change the fact that he accomplished little while here, Bouk flaming out in the NBA doesn’t change the fact that he had a large part in pushing our rock up the mountain.

Bouknight had a big impact on the program (i.e. showing other top recruits that Hurley's UConn is a destination where they can showcase their talent), but it's a fair point that we didn't actually do that much winning while he was here.

 

[UCan3]

I tend to reserve judgements - this stuff happens. He may have all kinds of issues going on on that no one here is aware. It’s is a tough world out there. He is a forever Husky and was never going to be the next LeBron. I hope he can grind out whatever might be holding him back and or find a place that he can be happy - make some more money (hope has already has good $ advisors), enough where he doesn’t have to worry about money for awhile.

 

[How Sway?!]

Bouknight had a big impact on the program (i.e. showing other top recruits that Hurley's UConn is a destination where they can showcase their talent), but it's a fair point that we didn't actually do that much winning while he was here.

In the season prior to his arrival, we won 48% of our games. In the two season he was here, we won 63% of our games, and that was with one season being COVID affected.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I keep thinking back to James full body cramp during the Creighton game. That was a good indication that he wasn't taking care of his body. Athletes at his level don't experience full body cramps

 

[Deleted at users request]

Are you crazy? Bouknight in Miami? Heat culture is because they don’t bring in guys who are going to be obsessed with Miami.

That’s the worst place for a young kid. San Antonio won’t put up wit him. He has to prove he can be a professional.

He has not proven that yet. 2 1/2 years later and no one knows if he has what it takes to play at this level. Talent? Yes. Drive and maturity and professionalism. He is going to have to show it. Hopefully a team picks him up at end of season and tries to catch lightning in a bottle.

It’s definitely a risk. But one thing that was absolutely terrible about Charlotte was the fact that he had no real vets. Don’t know if Miami or San Antonio could change that.
Edit: San Antonio doesn’t have any now that I think about it. Just Pop.

If Haslem was still there I’d probably feel better about it. I think Caron may be down there too? Those two could be vital mentors, especially with Caron as a UConn alum and his own story.

 

[Deleted at users request]

In the season prior to his arrival, we won 48% of our games. In the two season he was here, we won 63% of our games, and that was with one season being COVID affected.

We may have had like 2 regular season losses when he was healthy his sophomore year. He may have had his issues but he was for sure a beast on the court that we were really good with without much help around him.

 

[The Yakk]

If he is fortunate enough to have $2M, invest that with $7.5%, and that's $150k a year without touching principle principal.
That's a nice cushion along with any other income he may earn.
Unfortunately I don't have a good feeling he has that much squirreled away.

Let me know where he is going to get 7.5% risk-free return every year.

If 7.5% is your long-term target, then you will definitely have some periods where you lose some principal.

Also--even if that fantasy is somehow realized--$150k / yr pre-tax is not going to be enough.

I think Mr. Bouknight is going to have to keep earning.

 

[amishboy]

Can someone help me make sense of this “gem” from the Courant?

“Police said Bouknight refused to comply with commands once he was awake, and appeared confused for several minutes. He then ate food and crashed into two police cars, according to the police report. A breathalyzer test reportedly confirmed his blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit.”

So he was found in his car, passed out and apparently intoxicated, and…the police provided food? And then let him (attempt to) drive away?

 

[Kathy]

Let me know where he is going to get 7.5% risk-free return every year.

If 7.5% is your long-term target, then you will definitely have some periods where you lose some principal.

Also--even if that fantasy is somehow realized--$150k / yr pre-tax is not going to be enough.

I think Mr. Bouknight is going to have to keep earning.

How is 150k pretax not enough income?

 

[ARIDE]

He had his chances and didn’t perform. At this point just have to hope that someone takes a chance on picking up a young guard that had lottery talent a few years ago. Then he’d have his final chance to stick in the league

As always I wish him the best and would love to see him play well and have a long NBA career

He played well..his issues were growing up and becoming an adult and a professional. He just never got that!! He can play!!!