Straight to the G League
posted by Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson | May 4, 2018 | In News, Opinion, SportsIn a move that has been described as everything from a blip to revolutionary, Darius Bazley became the first top prospect to forgo attending college in favor of the NBA G League. Bazley, 17, decommitted from the Syracuse University last month, instead announcing his intention to join the NBA’s developmental league. The 6-foot-8-inch high schooler from Cincinnati, Ohio is ranked as the eighth-best player in the 2018 class, according to 247sports.com’s rankings.
In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, Bazley explained and defended his decision: “The way I see it, my GPS is set to the same destination as every other top recruit in the nation. I just picked a different route,” Bazley wrote. “I understand what I’m giving up by jumping to the G League. I know it’s not going to be glamorous. I’m walking away from the opportunity to be the big man on campus and play in front of 33,000 screaming fans at the Carrier Dome. That’s not easy to do. But when I broke everything down and really considered what I wanted for my future, I realized that, even though it hasn’t really been done before, spending a year in the G League is going to prepare me for the NBA in a way that no other setting can.”
Bazley pointed out that 38% of players in the NBA have experience playing in the G League also. The NBA has made great strides recently to make the G League a viable developmental league from expanding the G League so that every NBA team will have their own G League team. Last season, the NBA utilized the G League more than ever, more than half of the first round picks in 2016 played in the G League. Alumni includes Duke star Quinn Cook, Jeremy Linn, and potential defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert.
As a G League player, Bazley would receive full-time developmental assistance, with the ability to focus solely on his craft and goal without having to worry about a full college course load. As a player in the G League, Bazley would receive a salary of $26,000.
“Of all the critiques I’ve gotten, I think the funniest one is when people point out I’m only going to make $26,000 next year,” Bazley said. “Because I’m like, ‘Yo! I’m going to make $26,000 next year!’ I’m 17. I think having five dollars is a lot of money.”
However, Bazley would be free to negotiate and sign with agents and sponsors, as well as being able to profit from endorsements. If Nike or Adidas wanted to sign Bazley to be a brand athlete, he would be free to accept money.
If Bazley makes a successful transition from high school to G League to the NBA, there is some belief that he could start a trend for top prospects. However, just as many people are skeptical that the G League could morph into a real alternative over college, as long as blue bloods and big brands such as Duke and Kentucky exist. There’s a level of fear and lack of familiarity associated with a potential jump to the G League that will scare off many future players.
In 2005, the NBA created the much-maligned one-and-done rule. The rule instituted an age limit of 19, or “one year removed from high school.” The rule has led to numerous players spending one year in college before declaring for the NBA. Critics argue that one-and-dones make a mockery of the ideal of being a “student-athlete” and college basketball, as a whole.
“If things don’t work out like I’m planning, maybe I’ll be known as the last player ever to attempt something like this. But I have a pretty good feeling I’m about to become the first of many,” Bazley wrote.
College is not for everyone and college is not in everyone’s career plan. For a top athlete, college is often just a one-year stopgap until they are eligible for the NBA. For players who want the college experience, college will always be available for them. The G League alternative is for those who want more choices and more options, thus giving athletes more power. More power and choice is a good thing. It will be a wait-and-see game as to whether Bazley is a trendsetter or an outlier, but either way he is making history.
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