The similar option in the G League (Select Contracts) they announced will effectively kill it. I'm not sure if that has started yet, but wasn't it a guaranteed US$125k? With the added bonus of an American platform to play on.

http://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/25015812/g-league-offer-professional-path-elite-prospects-not-wanting-go-one-done-route-ncaa

If a kid is thinking he'll by O&D, but for whatever reason doesn't shine as a freshman, he can simply delay and try again as a sophomore. Not sure that's an option if he's already turned professional.

I don't see it as a bust yet but if the subscription rate continues to be one team then it could be considered a bust.

Next season I would like to see every team have a next star.

Maybe if they cant attract 9 per season they should go into a pool and drafted in reverse order of last seasons ladder?

"they want the college highlights"

Even before the much publicised injury to Zion Williamson yesterday there were a lot of folk saying he should "shut it down" and sit out the rest of the season. There's quite a big groundswell of opinion building that the NCAA are ripping these kids off and they'd actually be better off sitting at home playing video games rather than playing for "nothing"

I don't agree but the sentiment is there. I've seen the value if a Div 1 scholarship at a big school equated to $125K per year but they don't get that as cash

You're right though that the kids would probably love to have the whole experience, particularly at a big time school. A parent of a highly touted future draft pick might see it differently

koberulz
A couple of hours ago

If a kid is thinking he'll by O&D, but for whatever reason doesn't shine as a freshman, he can simply delay and try again as a sophomore. Not sure that's an option if he's already turned professional.
Why not?


I believe you can play 4 years of pro ball without losing your draft eligibility? I may be wrong

They should just allow the NCAA players to make money out of their own name and likeness.

The NCAA still make a lot of money off college hoops.

"The NCAA still make a lot of money off college hoops."

Yes they do indeed

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/22678988/ncaa-tops-1-billion-revenue-first

To get the league's view of how they expected the G-League initiative to affect the NBL's Next Stars program, check out this article - https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/what-the-nbas-new-gleague-program-for-oneanddone-athletes-means-for-the-nbls-next-stars-program/news-story/e00f7af5a62a7a42f8d4fbfdfea53e81

From October last year, a week into the 2018-19 NBL season. I doubt their view of the situation has changed a lot since then.

FWIw, The way Ennis was recruited seemed to make sense, all sides.

The NBL (Perth) got a quality player, he had already been drafted (Miami??).

Ennis got excellent experience.

Miami got a great(er) player.

We all know that!

It seems that the NBA have some respect for our NBL now, and no, not just cos of Ennis.

Wouldn't deals between our NBL & NBA teams make sense? They draft a player who needs developement, they "lease" him to someone else (NBL team), When he's needed or ready, he returns (end of season or immediately with a replacement?).

Wage would be shared, a stipulated amount by the NBL, the rest of his contract, by his (NBA) team.

Don't know anything about Ennis/Perth deal but that's a model to (re)consider.

The word you're looking for is "loan" and it's done all the time in football. This to a limited degree occurs in the US now with NBA players dropping back to the G-League and in Europe to lower division clubs but it would help the NBL and basketball worldwide if it was more common place like it is in the world game.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, my point/question was that a kid who fails to live up to expectations as a Freshman, can simply continue as a Sophomore, and nominate for the following draft. Having a quick look at the top prospects for this Draft, most seem to be sophomores (apart from Zion, etc.)
A kid who turns professional and struggles, does he have the option of going (back) to College??

The "American Basketball Industry" IS a thing, DUDE, its the Industry of American Basketball.
NCAA Ball is worth squillions. I doubt they're going to sit on their arse twiddling their thumbs whilst we try to poach their biggest stars.
Obviously the NBA is a different entity with its own goals, but there clearly exists a level of symbiosis, if not actual cooperation. The complaints about College kids playing for nothing has been going on since professional sports became a thing.
Besides, even if the NCAA and NBA are at each others throats, that's not a battle we want to get in the middle of

I actually think there could be some benefit to taking a different approach. Target Juniors (or even Sophomores) who are clearly not destined to be drafted, but look the goods for a potential international career. Suggest that instead of another year or two playing for pizza, they turn pro, come and play in the NBL, and use that as a springboard into Europe. With the option of nominating for the draft later, and/or moving to the G-League.
We should showcase players like Ennis, Wilbekin, Craig, even Creek.
We could work with our partner Universities to get them credit for their basket-weaving courses, and actually work (part-time) towards a real degree.

Perhaps, if "Next Star" is to continue (in whatever form)
Then the 3rd Import Slot should be changed & restricted (eg with a salary limit) and if a team gets a NS, then it replaces that 3rd import.

A kid who turns professional and struggles, does he have the option of going (back) to College?

"but the kid who turns pro overseas can also take another year of playing professionally overseas, and still get paid for it."

Assuming he's still good enough to be on a roster

" Suggest that instead of another year or two playing for pizza, they turn pro, come and play in the NBL, and use that as a springboard into Europe. With the option of nominating for the draft later, and/or moving to the G-League."

That doesn't have the same promotional value as being able to promote these young kids as "future NBA". That was the primary reason for investing in the Next Stars program. Not to develop these kids or provide a new source of players for NBL - but to use the link to NBA as a promotional vehicle here in Australia and Asian TV markets. Few, if any, people not already following NBL are going to be excited by "future Euroleague" or "future G-League". So there'd be little or no return, in terms of increased crowds and viewers, from NBL investment in that approach.

It helped Sydney have 5 imports: Randle, Wear, Bowen, Turner, Lisch (naturalised).

So it is a good thing.

Unlikely. And if that was your ceiling you'd do that instead of turning pro in the first place.

So what, you reckon in a dispute between the NCAA and NBL, the NBA would side with us? Or even not have an opinion? Fat chance.

NCAA won't like it, because we're actually trying to pinch their biggest stars.
NBA won't like it, because we're messing with their draft.
Sponsors won't like it because we're taking their brightest emerging stars and plonking them on the bench on the other side of the world.
Commentators and Media won't like it for all of the above reasons.
Agents won't like it because X% of $100k is literal peanuts compared to the NBA and endorsements.

Have I missed out anybody involved in the American Basketball Industry?

Um, no he doesn't.

As I said, we know how good our league is, and we know that a year spent playing and training in our mens league would be much better for a player's development than putting together a highlights reel in College ball.

Whether we're better than a European league depends very much on the league in question, but on the plus side the culture shock for kid would be much less coming here.

That's not the issue.
The issue for us is whether we can seriously attract 9 or 10 good quality kids every year.

The other point I should clarify, is that we are far more likely to attract guys like Bowen, which on the whole is not a bad thing. Ideally he will get drafted but late and could return for another season.

The problem really is that the Next Star player is a freebie, and we could end up with a wide disparity in the quality of the players.

The concept of the Next Stars program for young Americans is sound. The problem being only a few players a year would fit into the small niche of
- not wanting/can't go to college
- talented enough to be worth bringing out to pay $100k
- decide as an 18 year old, coming to Australia is the best option.

With only 1 player satisfying those criteria this season, it isn't any more of a "program" than Tai Wesly being able to play as a local for some reason was a "program".

When you factor in the disadvantages (fewer minutes for Australian players, perceived bias in player being allocated to a team with plenty of talent already) it looks more and more like a bust.

If it didn't mean there was a team with 4 Americans currently on it, you could almost convince me its worth sticking to.

Would that not require the player to have more than a 1 year deal? Why would there need to be a transfer fee for a player that is out of contract?

Wasn't Creek's thing that he had an out clause?