Ben Simmons withdrew from all classes after LSU season ended

[wdleehi]

Is he the only one? 


I mean he is getting ready for his first job interview.   Does it make more sense to continue worrying about classes that are not directly connected or work on his craft?




I hate the one and done rule because it does a terrible job preparing players to play.  I much rather the players have to play at least 3 years of higher level basketball before they are eligible to be drafted. 

Whether that is college, the NBDL or overseas, doesn't matter. 

[jbp126]

If Simmons values an education he will have every opportunity to go back whenever he wants.

That makes about as much sense as saying that if you value basketball, you can play whenever you want.

Totally disagree. If you value basketball, you have a very limited window of opportunity to play as a professional. Whereas if you value education, then you are probably smart enough to realize this window, take advantage of it, earn as much as possible, and return to school at a later time when it can be more of a priority. After you conclude your career as a high profile professional athlete, you will have many opportunities to return to college, given slight normal cognitive decline that occurs after your twenties.

Yup, still doesn't make sense.

Also, c'mon people. Is it a knock on a player when the same can be said about 75% (people can come up with statistics to prove anything, 14% of all celticsblog commenters know that) of the league?

Yes, there is a good reason that Statistics is a mandatory course in most colleges. Of course, if you left that part for later, you'll probably believe every "proof" that was thrown your way.

I'll put it as simply as I can, Simmons can return to college at a later time (during the offseason, after he retires) if he chooses to. This is true and makes sense. Simmons can play professional basketball whenever he wants. This is not true and does not make sense.

We're not arguing the merits of higher education. We are discussing the amount of opportunity one has to attend college versus the NBA. If only classic Simpsons episodes were required instead of statistics, then maybe people would get my lame reference.

[fubar089]

have no problem with this. lets not act like these one and done guys are there to get an education.

[Roy H.]

I don't like it, but a lot of guys do the same thing. It's the nature of the business.

He's not an intellectually curious kid. That doesn't disqualify him from the NBA. Time will tell if he's got the BBIQ and work ethic to excel in the NBA.

[gift]

"All Simmons cared about was basketball..."

Good. If we draft him, I'm glad to know that (which is better than the next bit, "sometimes as he looks lazy on the court").

He didn't want to be in college to begin with. The only reason he went was because he had to. What do I care what he did? I'm guessing that the demographics of CB are such that many of us can't imagine not going to college. As much as I like my bubble, not everyone feels that way.

Mike

Sounds like a quote that could be used to describe a lot of great players.

He didn't go to college for the classes.

[Adelaide Celt]

Oh dear. This attempted character assassination of Ben Simmons is silly.

Can't be bothered going to a few meaningless classes. Big deal. Not even gonna bother with that.

I've been a big fan of Simmons for several years, like many others. So much to like about this kid.

I will concede he does come across as a little aloof at times and yes after collecting pretty much every single award and accolade you could possibly get in HS and being likened to LeBron and Magic in college, he has developed a bit of an ego.

2 other guys who had/have a bit of an ego - Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Not saying Simmons is going to replicate their achievements or on court demeanor but think this supposed character flaw of his is in fact not a concern at all.

Come to think of it, Larry literally quit college and had to be begged to come back. Just as well he's not playing in this era, doesn't sound like a Brad Stevens type of player to me!

Ben Simmons is going to be awesome. Count on that.

[Jon]

Ben Simmons is a professional basketball player.  That's been his aim the whole time.  You could call him an "amateur" because he's not getting paid to play, yet.  But really, he's just a professional who's been forced to work for free.

The only reason he spent any time at all at a "school" is because he had to in order to play in the NBA.

To fault him for that is silly.  Fault the NCAA for this asinine system that maintains the farce of the "student athlete" at the schools with major sports programs.



Of course he withdrew from his classes.  They won't help him become a professional basketball player.  He needs to focus on getting ready for the draft.

TP

The far more preposterous idea is that anyone thinks the vast majority of NBA prospects are all that academically motivated and/or stimulated to begin with.

And I'd go a step further to say that there's a degree of racial bias when predominantly black young basketball players are ripped for skipping out on their education while no one bats an eye when predominantly white hockey (and to some extent baseball) players skip college altogether and just go to the minors.

[Tr1boy]

"All Simmons cared about was basketball..."

Good. If we draft him, I'm glad to know that (which is better than the next bit, "sometimes as he looks lazy on the court").

He didn't want to be in college to begin with. The only reason he went was because he had to. What do I care what he did? I'm guessing that the demographics of CB are such that many of us can't imagine not going to college. As much as I like my bubble, not everyone feels that way.

Mike

Sounds like a quote that could be used to describe a lot of great players.

He didn't go to college for the classes.

It doesn't matter. It is part of the rules and condition to be able to play games.

Even if a prospect does not plan to obtain a degree it is sure nice to know they tried to be a good student (start to finish).    Courses were completed.

[wdleehi]

Ben Simmons is a professional basketball player.  That's been his aim the whole time.  You could call him an "amateur" because he's not getting paid to play, yet.  But really, he's just a professional who's been forced to work for free.

The only reason he spent any time at all at a "school" is because he had to in order to play in the NBA.

To fault him for that is silly.  Fault the NCAA for this asinine system that maintains the farce of the "student athlete" at the schools with major sports programs.



Of course he withdrew from his classes.  They won't help him become a professional basketball player.  He needs to focus on getting ready for the draft.

TP

The far more preposterous idea is that anyone thinks the vast majority of NBA prospects are all that academically motivate and/or stimulated to begin with.

And I'd go a step further to say that there's a degree of racial bias when predominantly black young basketball players are ripped for skipping out on their education while no one bats an eye when predominantly white hockey (and to some extent baseball) players skip college altogether and just go to the minors.

If the NBA had a minor league system like Baseball or Hockey, I wouldn't care if the players were drafted out of high school and sent there to train.

[LarBrd33]

My heart fluttered a bit when I saw Ben Simmons 'withdrew"...

[byennie]

It's somewhat logical for him to act this way, but I'd look at it like this. He's almost definitely immature. He's of course hardly the only high draft pick in that boat.

What I really don't like is that he's obviously very selfish. Whether or not he feels he should have been "forced" to go to college, he had teammates. He had thousands of fans, most of whom he saw every day on campus. And you know what? He quit on them and half-assed it, because Ben Simmons doesn't need LSU, he's going to be rich and famous in the NBA soon enough.

He's still really good at basketball and really young. There are probably worse individuals in the draft. However, this is pretty lame on a personal level and may follow him into his next locker room. Hopefully he just has lousy advisors and he pulls it together.

[gift]

"All Simmons cared about was basketball..."

Good. If we draft him, I'm glad to know that (which is better than the next bit, "sometimes as he looks lazy on the court").

He didn't want to be in college to begin with. The only reason he went was because he had to. What do I care what he did? I'm guessing that the demographics of CB are such that many of us can't imagine not going to college. As much as I like my bubble, not everyone feels that way.

Mike

Sounds like a quote that could be used to describe a lot of great players.

He didn't go to college for the classes.

It doesn't matter. It is part of the rules and condition to be able to play games.

Even if a prospect does not plan to obtain a degree it is sure nice to know they tried to be a good student (start to finish).    Courses were completed.

It may be good for you to know. It is not good for me to know. It is literally meaningless to me.

[Tr1boy]

It's somewhat logical for him to act this way, but I'd look at it like this. He's almost definitely immature. He's of course hardly the only high draft pick in that boat.

What I really don't like is that he's obviously very selfish. Whether or not he feels he should have been "forced" to go to college, he had teammates. He had thousands of fans, most of whom he saw every day on campus. And you know what? He quit on them and half-assed it, because Ben Simmons doesn't need LSU, he's going to be rich and famous in the NBA soon enough.

He's still really good at basketball and really young. There are probably worse individuals in the draft. However, this is pretty lame on a personal level and may follow him into his next locker room. Hopefully he just has lousy advisors and he pulls it together.

Agree

And hopefully (your last pt)

[Jon]

It's somewhat logical for him to act this way, but I'd look at it like this. He's almost definitely immature. He's of course hardly the only high draft pick in that boat.

What I really don't like is that he's obviously very selfish. Whether or not he feels he should have been "forced" to go to college, he had teammates. He had thousands of fans, most of whom he saw every day on campus. And you know what? He quit on them and half-assed it, because Ben Simmons doesn't need LSU, he's going to be rich and famous in the NBA soon enough.

He's still really good at basketball and really young. There are probably worse individuals in the draft. However, this is pretty lame on a personal level and may follow him into his next locker room. Hopefully he just has lousy advisors and he pulls it together.

Are you talking about the way the season ended or because he isn't going to classes? Because I can assure you that no one at LSU cares if he doesn't go to class. Plenty of college player regularly don't go to class or go to farcical classes and no one bats an eye. The fact that Simmoms is just being open about it is actually refreshing.

How many other players who announced for the draft early are still technically enrolled in classes but either not showing up or are getting gentleman Cs and ads in bullEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. classes?

[Fafnir]

I don't like it, but a lot of guys do the same thing. It's the nature of the business.

He's not an intellectually curious kid. That doesn't disqualify him from the NBA. Time will tell if he's got the BBIQ and work ethic to excel in the NBA.

Honestly I think its the most responsible thing to do. He's about to start a NBA career and whatever entry level classes he was enrolled in are irrelevant to his upcoming profession.

Better to prep for workouts, work on basketball skills, and get ready for all the noise that comes with being a lottery pick with a lot of money coming your way.