First off I understand this is long don’t read it and dismiss it I get it. But this topic is way more complicated than just a one line condescending post:
What I don’t get is how we just put everyone in the same bucket. Life is short and being a 20 yr old college kid making millions while improving at his craft has to be something a young man could consider. This is not like get hurt and they can’t fix it with modern medicine. You can call it whatever you want but the reason our government is broken is because boomers don’t believe in change. Hawkins should be playing this year yet he is buried at the end of the bench stacking up DNP coaches decision. That has to be great for his confidence and continued development (sarcasm). I am certain he goes home happy every night after a game and hangs out in his mansion not thinking about not playing again. If DC is lottery and will for sure play in the nba not g league next year then of course he should go. I tried to figure out the finances but other than a lottery pick it appears most first round picks are pretty much guaranteed $10M. Does Sanogo come back if he could make NIL money? Because I am fairly certain he would be doing just about the same financially as he is right now. He is dominating the g league. You are an expert do you think he ever cracks an nba rotation? This question is also for those who like to be condescending because they are just smarter than everyone else on the board. It’s kind of sad. Once you get into the millions just to play college basketball you are set for life unless you don’t have the right support system. Going pro at a young age grinding out practices day in and day out and never playing can’t be good for a 19 yr old. Josh Boone played more as rookie than Hawkins has. Think about that. A young man goes from a family environment to a world where the guy next to you could care less about you and is not going to pass you the ball. Or you run into a coach like Doc who ain’t playing a rookie unless their name is LeBron James. At 20 years old a young adult is developing the maturity it will take to progress through life not only basketball. Some people are ready for that at 19-20. Like Castle or AK if he was a for sure first round draft pick. I guess all I am saying is that it is just dismissed as naive or stupid or ill informed if someone even brings it up. With NIL and how much money a kid can make while still enjoying being a college kid I don’t get why there is not at least some type of dialogue on the matter. My opinion on DC is he is a great kid becoming a man. For some that level of maturity comes later. I can assure you if I have an opinion about Donovan it is not based on what’s best for me as a fan but more so just making sure he never loses than inner kid since it makes him special IMO. You can keep ridiculing those who bring up the idea, I kind of get why you do, because all the experts agree with you, but that does not mean it’s right for every player. I may not have your insider knowledge but trust me I am an expert at human behavior and have made a good living figuring out how people think and understanding them as individuals before making any type of recommendation of what they should do. It just ain’t as simple as you make it out to be and IMO it is why so many of these young men fail at the next level. Here is one name that I will close on….Tim Duncan.
But, but, but, isn't it always about the money?
I understand your point but most people today will likely take the money while it's there because you don't know what injury you might experience or whatever other factor could change things for the player in another year or two. Edey is an example of someone who's improved by staying but who knows where he'll be drafted this year compared to where he was projected as an underclassman (if that was even known).
In defense of those you challenge, besides the financial benefit, they also point out the training and coaching in the NBA will benefit them more than staying another year in college where there is not the level of staffing the pros can provide to help the players develop.
In other words it's a crap shoot and we'll never know for sure who was right regarding any individual player but, in general, most will surely take the financial security over the loss of youthful enjoyment gained in another year or two of college.