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Insights into the 2024 NBA Draft: Who cares about college?
College sports in the USA are still a billion-dollar business, and the ratings are good – especially for the two big draws, football and basketball. But while you have little chance of making it to the NFL in football without convincing college performances, NBA and NCAA basketball seem to be becoming more and more disconnected every year. Although it is currently still not allowed to join the NBA straight out of high school, that doesn’t mean you have to go to college.
Finally, there is also the foreign country or the G-League: Four of the first six picks did not play for Duke, Kentucky, Villanova and Co. last season. Instead, they prepared for the big jump in France, Australia, the G-League or even in the BBL.
All 30 picks of the 1st round and their previous teams at a glance
Conversely, a successful college career does not guarantee a high draft status. Yes, two UConn champions, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, landed in the top 7, but – and here we are repeating ourselves like a broken record – that was also due to the weak year. At the same time, it was a big surprise that two-time college player of the year Zach Edey was drafted at number 9 by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Don’t get me wrong: This has happened in the past too. For every Jalen Brunson (College Player of the Year 2018) and Zion Williamson (2019), there is a Frank Mason III (Player of the Year 2017, now playing in Italy) or Luka Garza (Player of the Year 2021) who has made five starts in the NBA in three years. But the gap has been getting wider and wider in recent years. Anyone with legitimate NBA ambitions only sees college as a way to get a quick year – or doesn’t go at all. On the other hand, anyone who is unlikely to make it in the pros is making the most of their college years. Especially now that you can now earn millions with advertising deals.
But it is precisely these financially lucrative personal rights that could change that again in the future. It is not for nothing that the “G-League Ignite Team” is being discontinued this summer. The team was founded in 2020 to give young players an opportunity to earn money on their way to the NBA. Since this is now also possible in college, the team has become superfluous.
At least there were two players this year, Ron Holland II (5th pick) and Matas Buzelis (11), who got themselves ready for the NBA via the G-League. From the fall onwards they will probably go back to studying or overseas.
2024-06-27 09:56:00
#findings #NBA #Draft
