Top prospects who enter the G League straight out of high school are eligible for a salary of $125,000NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban suggested that "elite basketball recruits are 'crazy' if they don't bypass college" for the NBA G League, according to Ben Standig of NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON. Cuban said, "If you're a strong enough brand and a good enough basketball player, you're crazy I think if you don't take the ($125,000 salary) in the NBA G League, (because) they can also do their own marketing deals. They're not constrained by the NBA Players Association." Cuban said of high school player Julian Newman, who became a viral video sensation at age 8, "He's got a few 100,000 followers on Instagram, and after every one of his games, he's selling merchandise. He's his own little business. I don't know if he's good enough to make the NBA ... but people recognize what the Ball's did with Big Baller Brand and what others have done. They are building businesses and brands around themselves." Cuban added, "Pick a very popular player that has a couple of million Instagram followers. You can go right to the G League and probably sign a multi-million shoe deal. Why wouldn't you do that instead of going to college? ... They already have followings. They can sell merchandise. They can do marketing. They are already Instagram and online influencers. They can finally get paid for that" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 3/11).
