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Around the League => Around the NBA => Topic started by: rondofan1255 on October 18, 2018, 12:37:59 PM
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G League to offer $125K to elite prospects as alternative to college one-and-done route
In a move that could challenge the NCAA's monopoly on elite talent, the NBA's G League is creating a new venture as an alternative to the one-and-done route for the best American basketball prospects, it was announced Thursday.
As part of a newly formed professional path starting in the summer of 2019, the G League will offer "Select Contracts" worth $125,000 to elite prospects who are at least 18 years old but not yet eligible for the NBA draft.
The G League will target recent or would-be high school graduates who otherwise would have likely spent just one season playing college basketball, enticing them not only with a six-figure salary but also the opportunity to benefit from NBA infrastructure, as well as a bevy of off-court development programs "geared towards facilitating and accelerating their transition to the pro game," league president Malcolm Turner told ESPN.
Without the restrictions of the NCAA's amateurism rules, players will also be free to hire agents, profit off their likeness and pursue marketing deals from sneaker companies and the like, which could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in endorsement opportunities to top prospects.
In April, the Commission on College Basketball, formed by the NCAA after a federal investigation into fraud in the sport, recommended that the NCAA and NBA embrace alternative options for one-and-done-caliber prospects.
"Elite high school players with NBA prospects and no interest in a college degree should not be forced to attend college, often for less than a year," commission chair Condoleezza Rice told The Associated Press. "One-and-done has to go, one way or another."
While changes to the NBA's age limit likely won't be implemented until the 2022 draft, the league considers this a response to such criticism.
"The broader basketball community has called for the NBA to enhance our G League offerings," Turner told ESPN. "We believe this is an answer to that call. We believe this is a thoughtful and responsive answer."
Through its unique new partnership with USA Basketball, the NBA will have a captive audience of America's most elite prospects during the NCAA Final Four in April and at the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in October, where the G League will look to introduce this professional path to the many future NBA players in attendance, as well as their families, according to Turner.
Seven of the top 10 high school players in the 2019 ESPN 100 remain uncommitted to college programs, and the G League landing any of them could have huge ramifications -- for future paths to the draft for star players, the popularity of the NBA's development league and the college basketball talent pool.
Turner said the league will not pursue those players who have already committed to colleges, but the professional path would be an alternative to those prospects who make a choice on their own to decommit. Turner also said the G League will be selective with the players they look to bring into the program -- with a strong emphasis on character and readiness to join a pro league.
Many important details are still yet to be decided, including the way in which elite prospects are identified, pursued and then assigned to G League teams. How many players will the G League look to include in its first iteration of this venture? Who will determine which prospects are good enough to make the cut? Will this venture be open to international players as well, including Canadians or Australians who often matriculate to the NBA via American high schools or college basketball? What about Europeans?
These are questions that Turner says will be answered in the near future with the help of a soon-to-be-hired dedicated program manager who will oversee the G League professional path, as well as a working committee that will tackle many of these tasks.
While full logistics still need to be worked out, the G League intends to offer prospects on its professional path access to NBA facilities, player development coaches and training staffs well in advance of training camps in late October. That is important considering the long layoff between the end of a player's high school career in the spring and the start of the season in November.
The G League will look to supplement the basketball aspect of this venture with a significant off-court component as well, borrowing from its existing slate of development and educational tools that include life skills, post-career planning and academic scholarship opportunities through partnerships with universities.
Athletes will be restricted to playing only one season on a G League Select Contract, after which point they will become automatically eligible for that year's NBA draft. Article X of the NBA collective bargaining agreement already covers this for all draft-eligible American prospects: If a player renders services under contract for any non-NBA professional team prior to Jan. 1, he is automatically placed in the next draft.
The program also will only be available to players who are at least 18 years old (on Sept. 15, prior to the start of the season), eligible for the following NBA draft (turning 19 in the calendar year of that draft and a year removed from their high school graduating class) and not enrolled in college.
The program does come with some potential concerns for draft prospects, the G League and NBA teams:
• Even if the venture attracts top talent, will these 18- and 19-year olds make an impact at the G League level, where the average age of players not under NBA contract was 25 at the start of last season?
Given the significant difference in physical maturity and experience, G League Select prospects could be risking their draft stock while their peers face NCAA competition. It will take some time for a baseline to be established for what prospects can be expected to produce against this level of competition.
• Will there be any conflict between Select prospects and other G League players, many of whom will be making significantly less money? Regular G League players make $35,000 as a base salary for a five-month season, with bonuses, NBA call-ups, two-way deals and Exhibit 10 contracts providing paths to earning more.
• NBA teams will likely want to attract potential first-round prospects to their G League affiliates in order to gather as much information as possible prior to the draft, but will G League coaching staffs be as heavily invested in the development of players who might not be as equipped to help them win games?
G League officials are still considering how to address these concerns, with room for flexibility both before the program officially launches and once it is running. It will be fascinating to see how the college basketball world reacts to competition for its biggest stars and most marketable athletes, especially as the sport is engulfed in an ongoing corruption trial.
The NBA is expected to lower its age limit in time for the 2022 draft and allow high school players who have graduated to go straight to the NBA without spending a year in college or the G League, but league sources say a venture of this nature may end up being a model that is explored as a potential compromise, depending on how things play out over the next three years.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25015812/g-league-offer-professional-path-elite-prospects-not-wanting-go-one-done-route-ncaa
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Interesting idea. Couple things come to mind:
1. NCAA needs come competition.
2. For G-league affiliate teams, will they be willing to sign a player to a Select contract without any guarantee they get drafted by the parent club? Elite players might soak up minutes at the expense of existing 2-way roster players that need the reps.
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I love the idea. If they can get an audience, the pay should rise which will attract more players and it will become a true minor league and developmental system.
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I'll go to G-league games if they field top players.
College basketball has become more and more of slugfest. Too many fouls. Too few points. Too clogged paint. Too little basketball skills.
G-league is not good basketball either, but at least its entertaining.
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It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. On one hand you can make the argument that the current college game is nothing like the NBA game and the G-League is likely to better prepare them for a pro career. On the other hand, for the the top players it's a year of fun, exposure and a chance to experience 'March Madness'. Kentucky or the G-League? I'm going to Kentucky. But for the next tier of players maybe it's a tougher call.
I do think it's going to take one major success story for a player going this route to get a lot of others to follow it.
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It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. On one hand you can make the argument that the current college game is nothing like the NBA game and the G-League is likely to better prepare them for a pro career. On the other hand, for the the top players it's a year of fun, exposure and a chance to experience 'March Madness'. Kentucky or the G-League? I'm going to Kentucky. But for the next tier of players maybe it's a tougher call.
I do think it's going to take one major success story for a player going this route to get a lot of others to follow it.
I think the $125k, endorsements, and not having to go to classes, write papers, and take tests will be enough.
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It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. On one hand you can make the argument that the current college game is nothing like the NBA game and the G-League is likely to better prepare them for a pro career. On the other hand, for the the top players it's a year of fun, exposure and a chance to experience 'March Madness'. Kentucky or the G-League? I'm going to Kentucky. But for the next tier of players maybe it's a tougher call.
I do think it's going to take one major success story for a player going this route to get a lot of others to follow it.
I'm taking the money. $125k vs $0 for the same job. Easy decision for me.
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They copied lavar balls junior Basketball association
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But wouldn't a high school student stand to have better stats in college and a better draft position as a result when eligible? Would it not be riskier for top prospects to take the money and endorsements and play vs tougher opponents in G league vs padding their stats at the college ranks? I wonder.
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But wouldn't a high school student stand to have better stats in college and a better draft position as a result when eligible? Would it not be riskier for top prospects to take the money and endorsements and play vs tougher opponents in G league vs padding their stats at the college ranks? I wonder.
I would expect them to have stats more similar to Euroleague stars than NCAA stars. On the other hand, though, guys like Nader and James Young were able to put up great stats in the d league.
It'll probably come down to how NBA-ready they are, so being bigger/stronger than most 18-19 year olds will be a bit of a necessity in order to excel against the older competition
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But wouldn't a high school student stand to have better stats in college and a better draft position as a result when eligible? Would it not be riskier for top prospects to take the money and endorsements and play vs tougher opponents in G league vs padding their stats at the college ranks? I wonder.
yes, I think that's the point.
There is an inherent risk in exchange for money.
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I think this is better for top player. They will be going against players that have either been in NBA camps or even on NBA teams. They will be playing the NBA style. Even if their stats may suffer a little (which I am not so sure considering how the college game is), they will have better tape against better known quantities.
Plus, they could get better feed back on whether or not to enter the draft.
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But wouldn't a high school student stand to have better stats in college and a better draft position as a result when eligible? Would it not be riskier for top prospects to take the money and endorsements and play vs tougher opponents in G league vs padding their stats at the college ranks? I wonder.
I'm not sure when pro scouts evaluate talent they take into consideration their high school, college or soon to be G League stats. I am pretty sure they focus on physical measurables, shooting form, shooting range, footwork, dribbling ability and handle, rebounding basics and ability, defensive ability, court awareness, BBIQ, ability to create their own shot, passing ability, etc.
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I think this is better for top player. They will be going against players that have either been in NBA camps or even on NBA teams. They will be playing the NBA style. Even if their stats may suffer a little (which I am not so sure considering how the college game is), they will have better tape against better known quantities.
Plus, they could get better feed back on whether or not to enter the draft.
They can also focus on basketball and training full time.
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It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. On one hand you can make the argument that the current college game is nothing like the NBA game and the G-League is likely to better prepare them for a pro career. On the other hand, for the the top players it's a year of fun, exposure and a chance to experience 'March Madness'. Kentucky or the G-League? I'm going to Kentucky. But for the next tier of players maybe it's a tougher call.
I do think it's going to take one major success story for a player going this route to get a lot of others to follow it.
It's only for elite players. The article says that it's not clear how they will determine who qualifies.
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I'm not sure the top guys will do this. Is Deandre Ayton the 1st pick in the draft if he was in the GLeague instead of at Arizona last year? I'm not so sure. Playing against grown men is a lot different then playing against inferior players that are your physical equal. Even the GLeague is filled with vastly stronger and more physically developed players than a guy like Ayton. Sure, Ayton is more talented, but you can't just disregard the strength discrepancy either. Physical strength matters a lot and a skinny 18 year old kid just can't match up to a 25 to 30 year old professional. On top of that, the GLeague is a much longer season. That longer season will add a lot of physical strain on a younger still developing body greatly increasing the risk of injury. In addition, the GLeague has much crappier travel conditions. I mean a lot of the GLeague teams still ride the bus to games and stay in less then stellar hotels. A big university travels and stays in style.
That said, the money is nice. 125k from the GLeague is a good amount, but they can also sign endorsement deals, get paid by agents, etc. so they can make a lot of money in that year, which might outweigh some of the negatives and risk.
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Interesting. Regardless of how this works out, I do appreciate that the NBA is finally recognizing that the corrupt NCAA model no longer works and is unfair to the elite talent.
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https://sports.yahoo.com/zion-williamson-new-cam-newton-dukes-new-star-face-eligibility-issues-season-210307389.html
What a shame it would be if Zion is ruled ineligible. This alternative to the NCAA is a great idea.
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where do i sign ?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/zion-williamson-new-cam-newton-dukes-new-star-face-eligibility-issues-season-210307389.html
What a shame it would be if Zion is ruled ineligible. This alternative to the NCAA is a great idea.
Now Bill Self is implicated in paying recruits.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25018425/attorney-adidas-executive-says-20k-payment-only-made-request-kansas-jayhawks-coach-bill-self
This can't come soon enough.
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https://sports.yahoo.com/zion-williamson-new-cam-newton-dukes-new-star-face-eligibility-issues-season-210307389.html
What a shame it would be if Zion is ruled ineligible. This alternative to the NCAA is a great idea.
Now Bill Self is implicated in paying recruits.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25018425/attorney-adidas-executive-says-20k-payment-only-made-request-kansas-jayhawks-coach-bill-self
This can't come soon enough.
Have two friends in college athletics. They both have been at major college programs. Texas, Maryland, Kansas St and Michigan St are some of the places they have been. All the head coaches and booster programs and recruiting departments are dirty. EVERYWHERE!
We are just seeing the top of the iceberg
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https://sports.yahoo.com/zion-williamson-new-cam-newton-dukes-new-star-face-eligibility-issues-season-210307389.html
What a shame it would be if Zion is ruled ineligible. This alternative to the NCAA is a great idea.
Now Bill Self is implicated in paying recruits.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25018425/attorney-adidas-executive-says-20k-payment-only-made-request-kansas-jayhawks-coach-bill-self
This can't come soon enough.
Have two friends in college athletics. They both have been at major college programs. Texas, Maryland, Kansas St and Michigan St are some of the places they have been. All the head coaches and booster programs and recruiting departments are dirty. EVERYWHERE!
We are just seeing the top of the iceberg
I went to a division 1A school not known for its football and I know one of the players was receiving money. I can't imagine how corrupt the majors sports programs are. I love the idea of an alternative option where the players can be paid above board.
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I think football should do the same. I'm sick and tired of people going to college just so they can go to the pros. I think college should be to get an education.
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Darius Bazley, who's skipping NCAA ball this year, got an incentive-heavy contract with New Balance recently that also includes $1 million fully guaranteed, so he's basically free to train full-time this year in prep for the draft. It's the sneaker companies that can really make a gap year viable for athletes with payments like this.
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I think football should do the same. I'm sick and tired of people going to college just so they can go to the pros. I think college should be to get an education.
yeah those scholarships should go to kids who deserve to be at college but need money .
If the athletes would stay , get their degrees , then i have no issue with scholarship. But to go knowing 100 % you aren't going to stay but 1-2 years is cheating another kid who wants his education more than anything , but can't afgord it.
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Much of the money given out in academic scholarships at Div I schools are paid for by their football and basketball programs. NCAA athletics are huge money making businesses on the men's side of things. Those schools are going to do everything they can to continue to be the unofficial minor leagues for the NFL and NBA.
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Much of the money given out in academic scholarships at Div I schools are paid for by their football and basketball programs. NCAA athletics are huge money making businesses on the men's side of things. Those schools are going to do everything they can to continue to be the unofficial minor leagues for the NFL and NBA.
Yeah. The spots given to blue-chip prospects create money for universities. If they wanted to spend that money on hardship scholarships / increased financial aid they could easily do so.