G League is now AAA

[yoshukai]

With the announcement of the G League tournament in the Orlando bubble, this throws the g league into direct competition with the NCAA , ie both have their own versions of March Madness. Seems as if the G League is now AAA and NCAA is AA for the NBA.

BTW the team of high school MCDonalds AA who by passed college is competing in this tournament and the games will be well watched on ESPN. Saw at least five of our former players participating. Most of the players involved are well known to the typical college b ball fan! I am afraid college basketball will continue to decline in quality as the g league grows in popularity. The players union is certainly calling the shots .

Wishful thinking but we can all hope that the NCAA and NBA someday agree on the type of strategy used for baseball

I think the vast majority of college basketball fans are connected somehow to their college basketball teams . Either they went there or it represents their state or something . I dont see G league ever getting much of a following.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I think the vast majority of college basketball fans are connected somehow to their college basketball teams . Either they went there or it represents their state or something . I dont see G league ever getting much of a following.

This.

UK fans still watch even with a 5-13 team. You think a fan is going to do that for the Grand Rapids Rabbits or Souix City Shooters (just made those up because I have no idea who the G-League teams are)?

And how many are going to spend their hard earned money on G-League merch?

College bball has a lot of things G-League does not, most importantly an established fan base and a sense of tradition.

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

My shot at G-League is all financially based. They are trying to sell marketing to the players but how many companies are going to invest in a Minor League athlete in a skill sport? The biggest financial weapon will be seeing average/less talented guys go to a Kentucky, Duke, etc..and with IL rule profit big time. CFB will benefit most and then it becomes a bit political as you'll have recruiting bringing up state income tax and what you clear. For instance if Silver keeps pumping that G-League out in CA (smart of him to go down to Orlando for this event) the "big bucks" will be chopped up immediately. Guys making $200K will clear less then 40/ 50K after the agents, family etc....get hands on it and that's not to mention CA state income tax. Duke grad Silver should put them in Vegas if he wants them out West. So many people don't realize Pro athletes need to file income tax in every state they play in-which is why they often get caught with "Tax Evasion" as they are independent contractors. The reality is that Kuminga and Green in particular would've made far more $ under the table if they went to college then playing for Silver's lab rat team. They are getting better coaching and adjusting to Pro game but those 2 would've been top 5 picks if they went to college.

Anyone who loves Baseball doesn't skip a trip to MLB stadium or chance to watch on televsion their team to go watch a Minor League game-which is what NBA is asking fans to do--and then throw in CBB and fans are going to be loyal to the programs and sport they watched instead of watching guys who weren't good enough to make it out of college play minor league ball with some HS kids many fans don't know. It's a marketing loss and a conceptual failure that will eventually be rectified by just letting top talent go straight to NBA to give them next generational talent--Kobe and LeBron carried league since MJ became a Wizard and who is next guy? Rather market a kid out of HS then someone from G-League Team Ignite.

 

[UK90]

NBA G league is the best thing that could happen to CBB. Right now the product is an unwatchable overhyped version of AAU ball.

Let's put the "student" back in college student/athlete and give good players the time and opportunity to get a good education AND develop their game for a possible NBA future.

Let's let the the nba-aspirant kids who don't want to actually go to college move straight to a paid status under the NBA umbrella.

NCAA ball will improve with four-year participants playing a better brand of BB, and the NBA can get nearly immediate access to the next big thing in sneakers.

Good riddance to OAD, 8-month wonders!

GBB!

I agree with your sentiment, but I find your oddly random use of bolding puzzling. WTF?

 

[Madcat62_rivals113839]

I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but would having a team of actual serious students be the end of the world? Our team of college students plays against another team of college students. I know the level of play would drop off a great deal. And yes this would make every P5 team at best a little better than a good mid major team. Get back to my school/local team vs. your school/local team. I remember an ESPN talking head saying that we are the only country that has billion dollar amateur sports leagues.

Now that I think of it, the TV dollars would dry up. There's my answer.

the skill level would rise athleticism might drop off.