G League's new select contracts will not be an option for every recruitNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The G League's "creation of an alternative path to reach the professional ranks has been received positively by those already at basketball's highest level although they remain skeptical of its potential to bring widespread disruption to the college game," according to Andrew Greif of the L.A. TIMES. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, "I don't want to hurt college ball but I do think guys should have the right to go to the NBA. At 18 I can go to war." Thunder coach Billy Donovan said, "The NBA game is totally different than the college game and if a guy can financially help himself in the G League and get accustomed and acclimated to that, that could be a great situation for a player." Clippers G Jerome Robinson said he does not think the G League program will be for the "top, top guys." Robinson: "They'll still go to college because when you go to college pretty much everything is paid for." The new "select contracts" will not be an option for every recruit. Rivers said it is "only a matter of when, not if, the first players take a chance." Rivers said, "What people are missing is it's going to be a lot more money than that for that kid. The marketing end, all that, and that can start right then. There's a lot of guys who need it family-wise. There are guys that are ... good, and they should go" (L.A. TIMES, 10/20).
NOT FOR EVERYONE: THE ATHLETIC's Sam Vecenie wrote the definition of "what exactly 'elite' will mean is still pending." On the face of things, it "seems like a great idea." The NBA is "providing another avenue for young players to bypass the NCAA and make money," which was something that "seems to be universally agreed upon as a good option for some players to have." In talking to people from "all levels of basketball," so far none have said that these deals are a "'bad' thing." However, there is "some skepticism as to just how wide a spectrum of players this program will appeal to." There is some "measure of doubt about how things will be implemented and whether or not it's worthwhile for elite players to do it." Another "big question was how these players will be allocated" around the G League. If the players will "simply be dispersed to teams around the country, there is a concern" that coaches and execs will "not necessarily see much incentive in taking the time to develop kids that have no chance of playing in the NBA that season, and they have no future ties to in terms of holding onto them as an asset" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/19).
END OF ONE-AND-DONE? In Boston, Gary Washburn wrote one question is "how long this option will be viable, with the league wanting players eligible for the draft directly out of high school again." The G League has "not proven to be a place where younger players dramatically improve." It has "proven to be a solid place to produce NBA role players but it's absurd to think the bus rides and the run-and-gun style with little defense would prepare a young player for the NBA" more than a year at a D-I school would (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/21).
OLD COLLEGE TRY: In Toronto, Doug Smith wrote one can see the G League contracts as a "bit of a death knell to the NCAA one-and-done situation," though maybe "not as big" as some may think. The G League is "long bus rides and connecting commercial flights and tiny gyms with no discernible crowds." Smith: "It is NOT the highest level of NCAA and I wonder how many truly promising young players would rather go to the big schools than, say, Fort Wayne" (THESTAR.com, 10/19). In Louisville, Jon Hale noted some Kentucky players have said that they "still would have come to Kentucky if presented with the opportunity to be paid for a year" in the G League. Kentucky F Nick Richards said, "They treat each other like professionals over there, so if you're not ready, you're not ready. They're just going to move you down to the bench and not really care about you. In college they actually try to develop you and actually care about the kids." Kentucky G Tyler Herro said, "Might as well come to college, have a good experience, build your brand, play in front of thousands and thousands of people" (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 10/21).
