Amateur sports should remain amateur. Say no to amateur basketball mercenaries. There is no missed opportunity regarding this issue because it is a not an issue.
You misunderstand the very essence of life itself. These are kids in college who choose to use college as a platform to make money in the future. They receive hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of payments in full scholarships, food, trainers, coaching, facility access, VIP treatment, etc. They the vast majority of D1 athletes get quite the deal and bargain from universities.
They are free to go the G-League route or international professional route if they do not wish to accept the deal that is college. They do not have to go to college if it is such a bad deal for them. If they want to be workers so badly go to work, outside of school.
If you think student athletes are getting a bad deal, what kind of deal are regular Joe college student receiving.
PS: College athletes would do well to practice gratitude for the opportunities they receive and the platform they get from college athletics in the states.
PS: You and many others need to recognize a simple fact: they are students and they are at school. End of story.