Lavar Ball to launch Junior Basketball Association, to pay top 100 rank players

[CelticsElite]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21827823/lavar-ball-wants-start-league-high-school-graduates

LaVar Ball said Wednesday that he's launching a basketball league for nationally-ranked players who have graduated from high school but don't want to go to college.

Ball's Junior Basketball Association, which he says is fully funded by his Big Baller Brand, plans to pay the lowest-ranked player a salary of $3,000 a month and the best player $10,000 a month, Ball said. Ball is looking for 80 players to fill 10 teams that will seek to play at NBA arenas in Los Angeles, Dallas, Brooklyn and Atlanta.

[bdm860]

That article just got more and more crazy.

Ball said since Big Baller Brand is promoting the league, all players must agree to wear only Big Baller Brand products, including BBB shoes on the court.

The logo for the league features a silhouette of his son Lonzo, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, going to the hoop for a dunk.

[D Dub]

As much as I dislike Lavar, this is a great idea. 

The quicker the NCAA demises, the better, in my view.  It’s a criminal organization that top tier athletes need not be exposed to. 

[saltlover]

Two reasons while this will fail, not related to Lavar Ball’s egomaniacism:

1) The G-League pays more than $3k a month, and players can sign their own apparel deals.
2) Under the table money in the NCAA also exceeds $3k per month, albeit apparel deals are restricted.

Option 1 is clearly superior to the Big Baller league.  Virtually all high school players choose option 2, meaning there is no chance.

[gift]

[insert thriller .gif of michael jackson excitedly eating popcorn anticipating the magnificent, dramatic failure that is to come]

[coffee425]

love this idea.

no one should force an 18 year old to go anywhere. give these kids a chance to focus on their talent and prepare for their inevitable basketball career.

[Big333223]

Two reasons while this will fail, not related to Lavar Ball’s egomaniacism:

1) The G-League pays more than $3k a month, and players can sign their own apparel deals.
2) Under the table money in the NCAA also exceeds $3k per month, albeit apparel deals are restricted.

Option 1 is clearly superior to the Big Baller league.  Virtually all high school players choose option 2, meaning there is no chance.

Yeah, if Lavar wants to lure kids away from college he's going to have to do better.

[jambr380]

Two reasons while this will fail, not related to Lavar Ball’s egomaniacism:

1) The G-League pays more than $3k a month, and players can sign their own apparel deals.
2) Under the table money in the NCAA also exceeds $3k per month, albeit apparel deals are restricted.

Option 1 is clearly superior to the Big Baller league.  Virtually all high school players choose option 2, meaning there is no chance.

My thoughts exactly. If top 100 players actually started by playing in the G-League rather than going to college and then getting drafted, then the G-League would actually become a lot more exciting. Imagine guys like Simmons and Tatum dominating the G-League rather than undrafted players. It would be 1 and done like college, but they would be getting paid (well, officially, as you noted in option 2).

And this may not matter at all, anyway. If the new plan is to be able to draft players out of high school (or have them go to college for a minimum of two years), teams will at the very least want their guys playing for their G-League affiliate if they aren't ready for the NBA stage.

[droopdog7]

love this idea.

no one should force an 18 year old to go anywhere. give these kids a chance to focus on their talent and prepare for their inevitable basketball career.

No one is forcing these kids to go anywhere.  As it is, they already have the option to go to the G League, over seas, or college. 

[Big333223]

Two reasons while this will fail, not related to Lavar Ball’s egomaniacism:

1) The G-League pays more than $3k a month, and players can sign their own apparel deals.
2) Under the table money in the NCAA also exceeds $3k per month, albeit apparel deals are restricted.

Option 1 is clearly superior to the Big Baller league.  Virtually all high school players choose option 2, meaning there is no chance.

My thoughts exactly. If top 100 players actually started by playing in the G-League rather than going to college and then getting drafted, then the G-League would actually become a lot more exciting. Imagine guys like Simmons and Tatum dominating the G-League rather than undrafted players. It would be 1 and done like college, but they would be getting paid (well, officially, as you noted in option 2).

And this may not matter at all, anyway. If the new plan is to be able to draft players out of high school (or have them go to college for a minimum of two years), teams will at the very least want their guys playing for their G-League affiliate if they aren't ready for the NBA stage.

It seems like there's probably a chicken-and-egg problem. Star high school players aren't going to go to the G-League until it's more legit and pays enough money to offset not being on nationally televised college games. But the G-League isn't going to get big enough to pay that much/have that much influence until it can attract stars.

[SHAQATTACK]

I would take the free education ride myself .   I like how education is important to Jeff Green .  Its part of being the best you can be .   

I d enroll in a REAL major ......one that costs big money .  So I d have a base to fall back on if injured or basket pball,does not smile on me.

A year of paid school at a place like Duke is worth alot of money . 

Im old school ...i d like getting a nice degree .....not basket weaving ......and play ball too.

[nickagneta]

Doesn't this league become useless once the NBA starts to allow players straight to the NBA from high school? All the best talent will go to the NBA rather than this league or college.

[CelticD]

F the NCAA. Anything that stops that organization from farming these kids is fine by me.

[CelticsElite]

F the NCAA. Anything that stops that organization from farming these kids is fine by me.

how dare the NCAA give full ride scholarships along with free room/board as well as free books All for being able to bounce a ball and jump higher than me

[kozlodoev]

F the NCAA. Anything that stops that organization from farming these kids is fine by me.

how dare the NCAA give full ride scholarships along with free room/board as well as free books All for being able to bounce a ball and jump higher than me

You're implying that those kids actually go to (actual, real) classes? LOL.