SI.com on Bazley

[texascpa]

There’s a sadness to this article. College is about so much more than going to class at 8am. It’s a life experience that guys like Baz give up on. It’s too bad. We have become a culture where people think they can only do 1 thing all the time

Lots of kids start careers that don't require going to college (my daughter is an example) or go to college and don't partake in the "life experience" (I am an example of this). Not sure what is sad in either situation.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Lots of kids start careers that don't require going to college (my daughter is an example) or go to college and don't partake in the "life experience" (I am an example of this). Not sure what is sad in either situation.

Yeah, I didn't make it to college until my mid/late 20s after spending time in the military. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[OttoMets]

...

You're only young once.

Exactly. And you can't put a price on that, not $26,000, not $3,000,000. I feel sad for kids like this.

 

[kidorange]

I guess what I don't get about the G League is why don't the parent teams secure rights to the players? Seems like it would eliminate the possibility of trying to hide a player's talent or not caring about their development. It could also open the door for bigger player contracts, getting better players and getting fans interested.

I see not every team has a G League apphiliate but why? I grew up on baseball so that model is what makes sense to me.

 

[kingtidge]

Really sad to see the NBA sow its reach further into skimming the young talent pool of kid players and to prepare them for 3-games-a-week shootaround-ball played at reduced pace and effort and designed to maximize advertising and profit.

They have the unique distinction of being the only premier tier-1 sports league to put out a sub-standard product (compared to next level amateurs / lower league).

Stern is credited with doing a lot of positives for the NBA. But he is also credited with this negative... and it's a BIG negative.

It's also sad that the NBA is reaching further to skim the best young talent as early as possible to train them to early on how to play 3-game-a-week pro shootaround ball.

This was not how basketball was meant to be played and it's a sad state of affairs when the premier tier 1 professional league aspires to continue with a sub-standard poor product because they can make more money that way.

I would not be against the NBA doing any of the above if the on-court product was truly top tier. Hell, professional league soccer has been doing this for decades and scarfing up prodigies and putting them into development academies at very young ages with the sole purpose of developing them for tier 1 professional ball. But top tier professional soccer is not focused on how many games they can cram into a season schedule with the caveat that their tier 1 world class talent play at 60% effort consistently to weather the frequency of the schedule.

It's a sad state of affairs.

Now I know there are a lot of people that do not feel the NBA quality of product is not quite that bad.

That said, I am a basketball fan and can't stomach the NBA. And there's a lot of folks just like me.

That's just plain wrong.

 

[moqui]

There’s a sadness to this article. College is about so much more than going to class at 8am. It’s a life experience that guys like Baz give up on. It’s too bad. We have become a culture where people think they can only do 1 thing all the time

the majority of americans, athletes or not, never attend college or university. in the current cohort of 18-24 year olds, only about 40% will go to a 2 or 4 year college. only about 33% end up with a degree.
"guys like bazley" are not the only ones choosing to "give up on" that "life experience," which for many has become an excuse for extended adolescence.

if my son chooses to do something productive rather than go to university, i'll support him.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Links to these posts, please.

Thanks in advance.

It was discussed that his twitter feed got... ugly.
I don't twit, so I'm not going to post links. But, really, you don't believe there was a backlash?

 

[Zelda Zonk]

What to expect after Bazley's G-League Decision

I'm surprised this hadn't happened sooner. Or maybe it's just that the sneaker companies are reallocating budgets in the wake of the FBI thing. Either way, what's to stop the g league from making it a consistent strategy/policy, to poach recruits? Gatorade increases its profile, and the league itself benefits. What's the actual affiliation versus the NBA? Is this an end-run BY the NBA, where they don't have to deal with the bad PR of encouraging young black men to avoid college?

I'm not sure what to hope for next. A flurry of other decommits, so that the NBA and NCAA are forced to act towards protecting the college game? Or that this is the only one, and that it will be a failed experiment? I don't really want to root against Bazeley, but at this point, he has no loyalty equity from me, and I don't like that the institution of college hoops is crumbling with his 'contribution.'

 

[NateW]

It was discussed that his twitter feed got... ugly.
I don't twit, so I'm not going to post links. But, really, you don't believe there was a backlash?

I thought he was referencing the board.

Twitter is a drain on society and should never be taken seriously.

 

[Madbiker]

IMO the whole G league "development" argument is mostly window dressing. The real driver behind this is money, of course. It's a legal way to accept front money from an agent and maybe a 2 year contract with a shoe company for some non astronomical amount which they view as a flyer, seed money in the event the guy becomes a visible NBA player down the road -- in which case they get a bargain having him locked up for his rookie system and they have established a relationship with him. The revolution this may touch off is forcing the NCAA to change its rules to allow players to sign with an agent and accept payment while in school without losing their eligibility and possibly also allowing them to sign an endorsement contract with shoe or apparel companies.

 

[hungrychuck]

A place where a VP of the United States studied (Joe Biden), titans of the entertainment industry (Dick Clark, Bob Costas, etc.) and even Lexington Steele.

Lol.

Bazley: "Wait, Lexington Steele went there? How come nobody told me Lexington Steele went to SU?!"

 

[OrangeAl]

Any experience any of us had and what he was going to have are worlds apart. He was going to spend a semester and a half at school basically playing basketball, working out, hanging out with his teammates and getting a whole bunch of booty. Then following whenever that last March loss comes, he was likely dropping out and that was the conclusion of the college experience.

Whew! Our APR is saved!

 

[kuethstheman]

It was discussed that his twitter feed got... ugly.
I don't twit, so I'm not going to post links. But, really, you don't believe there was a backlash?

Good to know that you're not one of those "twits"!

 

[Zelda Zonk]

I thought he was referencing the board.

Twitter is a drain on society and should never be taken seriously.

He may have been, but he was referencing a post that didn't specify the board:
"while some others are hoping the kids life turns out horribly now"

Agreed, re: Twitter. It's insipid.

 

[GooseMutt]

One night after bars closed (my senior year) one of my roommates invited a bunch of people back to our place to continue the party. Well, one girl in particular was especially intoxicated & annoying - to point where I chose sleeping by myself over having her stay the night. (Yes, THAT annoying haha.)

Once it becomes clear to her that I wasn't interested, she goes "Fine, then drop me off at Carmelo's place."

Me: "What? I don't even know where he lives..."

Intoxicated girl: "I do, I'll show you - just drop me off there."

Me: "Uh, ok..."

True story. You can't make this stuff up.

Melo hits a foul shot

 

[andyw715]

I guess what I don't get about the G League is why don't the parent teams secure rights to the players? Seems like it would eliminate the possibility of trying to hide a player's talent or not caring about their development. It could also open the door for bigger player contracts, getting better players and getting fans interested.

I see not every team has a G League apphiliate but why? I grew up on baseball so that model is what makes sense to me.

I agree, why would an NBA team with a G League affiliate put any time and resources into him, when he'd be eligible for the 2019 draft, where any team could take him?

 

[AZOrange]

the majority of americans, athletes or not, never attend college or university. in the current cohort of 18-24 year olds, only about 40% will go to a 2 or 4 year college. only about 33% end up with a degree.
"guys like bazley" are not the only ones choosing to "give up on" that "life experience," which for many has become an excuse for extended adolescence.

if my son chooses to do something productive rather than go to university, i'll support him.

I’d like to know how many that don’t go “choose” not to go vs have that choice made (whether it’s personal circumstance, cost, etc). Bazley has that choice and passed. He’s going to learn life growing up with a bunch of older men when he should be with teenagers. I liken it to parents who push kids ahead in school.

College is not for everyone and not everyone wants college. But it’s a life experience that is really formulative and for those that don’t do it, I feel sorry for.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Plays in the number one college bb venue, plays in the number one college bb conference, will definitely go to the big dance, all games of TV and he goes to pallookaville because of a sneaker deal?

If he ever hears his name again...well it will be either his mother or father calling.

 

[moqui]

He’s going to learn life growing up with a bunch of older men when he should be with teenagers.

the g league is full of 19-24 year olds. just like college. unlike college, they will all be true peers.

 

[djcon57]

the g league is full of 19-24 year olds. just like college. unlike college, they will all be true peers.

Yep...The leading scorer of the G league is 21

He’s not playing against Charles Oakley

 

[Arangeman]

Yep...The leading scorer of the G league is 21

He’s not playing against Charles Oakley

The current average age of a G League player is 24.2. Down a year in 2017-18 due to the new 2 way contracts. 25.2 in 2016-17.

 

[tipphill]

is not g-league baseball equivalent to minor leagues? i see nothing wrong with this at all. it is another avenue for kids to take if they do not want college or DO NOT belong in college in the first place.
to many kids have been forced to go to college that do not belong there in order to play ball. it puts additional pressure on the kid and the school to perhaps"bend the rules" to maintain eligibility.
i am disappointed in this decision but i do not share the sentiment that it is perhaps a bad thing for the kid. time will tell.
the good thing for him is that the g-league now has a vested interest in his succeeding as well---good luck to him.

 

[TexanMark]

Lots of kids start careers that don't require going to college (my daughter is an example) or go to college and don't partake in the "life experience" (I am an example of this). Not sure what is sad in either situation.

I understand that...what irritates me is how he chose to do it. Very low class and family and his mentors come off as POS.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

is not g-league baseball equivalent to minor leagues? i see nothing wrong with this at all. it is another avenue for kids to take if they do not want college or DO NOT belong in college in the first place.
to many kids have been forced to go to college that do not belong there in order to play ball. it puts additional pressure on the kid and the school to perhaps"bend the rules" to maintain eligibility.
i am disappointed in this decision but i do not share the sentiment that it is perhaps a bad thing for the kid. time will tell.
the good thing for him is that the g-league now has a vested interest in his succeeding as well---good luck to him.

Not really. The baseball minors are a massive system where the teams are owned by the parent club with their primary goal being player development. MLB draft is huge, largely to fill the minor league roster needs. Players go through multiple levels, from Rookie league (exclusively dedicated to new draftees/signees), to A, AA, and AAA. They call it the “farm system” for a reason. All players on a farm team are owned by the MLB parent team and can be traded at any time.

G League is starting to have a similar parent-child team structure, but it’s not the same. Not all teams have a g league team. Furthermore, not all players on a g league team have their rights owned by an NBA team. That’s the structure Bazley is headed into. He’s not really headed to a team that has a vested interest in his development.

 

[721Comstock]

The current average age of a G League player is 24.2. Down a year in 2017-18 due to the new 2 way contracts. 25.2 in 2016-17.

So, even with an influx of 'younger' guys due to the new 2 way contracts, the average guy is still 6+ years older than Bazley, and virtually ALL of them have a lot more experience against much better competition, plus the fact that they're grown-ass MEN who are scrapping to get by.

Oh, and their respective NBA team owns their rights, so they are highly motivated to help develop them; vs a player who will be a free agent after 1 year, and can be drafted by any NBA team.

Good luck, kid. You're gonna need it.