It is in my opinion that the NBA has exponentially benefited from this rule, and it is no wonder why Commissioner David Stern looks to extend it a second year. Examples of players who chose to skip college and choose the riches of a pro basketball career.....Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, & Dwight Howard.
Those guys are the exception.
More often than not it was a guy like Dorell Wright, Sebastian Telfair, Jonathan Bender, Kwame Brown (#1 Overall choice 2001). These guys have taken years to achieve the status of NBA bench warmer or even better journeyman. That is sarcasm for those who are somewhat slow. The NBA product of the later 1990's and early 2000's had been turned into a free for all, in a baseball like draft of prospects instead of professional ready players.
The list of NBA flops is far greater than those who have become serviceable NBA talent.
Let's just hope that the one-and-done college mentality of players turn into an appreciation for the total package college has to offer. The latest and greatest example being the Gator Boys back-2-back national titles in 2006-2007. That is some bragging on my part, but you cannot deny the love these guys had for Gainesville and the University of Florida.
Granted three of these 5 guys have yet to make an impact in the NBA, but at least they didn't miss out on what only college students will be able to tell their grandchildren about.
Peace for now, until later.
New: Added 8/24/09 @ 11:30pm
Michael Beasley really exemplified this issue here. One year of college DID NOTHING. He still has to make personal life choices which could be the difference between the guys who make it, and those who don't. J.A. Adande's article is a great read on this issue and more...
- Aaron
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