Jennings decided to take the money away from the college big wigs and keep it himself. He is the first major American prospect to choose Europe over the NCAA out of high school. Instead of risking injury and losing money by playing against what is considered by the NBA as the best available competition, Jennings will earn anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000 in salary by playing in a weaker league overseas. This gives him a nice paycheck while giving him a better chance to dominate and look like a top 5 pick going into next year’s draft. The move is especially significant because the top of next year’s draft could be top-heavy with point guard prospects with high school star Demar DeRozan and Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio. DeRozan will be dealing with the likes of UCLA while Jennings is running up and down the court in a free-flowing game against a lot of players who won’t be able to handle his athleticism.
Jennings’s decision is a smart one because he’s taking the money into his own hands. He’s made it publicly clear that he has no interest in getting an education. If he does indeed have a great year in Europe and then goes in the top 5 of next year’s draft it will create a reciprocal effect of high schools standouts who feel they should be in the NBA choosing Europe and accolade over the NCAA and being subservient to a major program and head coach. It’s the choice that makes the most sense. A college scholarship is a great thing to have only if you plan to use it. If you have no interest in hanging around in college the choice comes down to being the big man on campus or getting paid while possibly becoming a hero to a city overseas. Jennings has chosen the latter. In my opinion the price is right.
It’s not like players like Jennings won’t enjoy the high life in the NBA once they get paid if they go overseas. And from what I’ve seen, foreign women aren’t so bad either. If Jennings wants to he can enjoy life just as well in Europe as he can in Arizona. So he might as well get paid for it.
Today will be remembered for two major milestones. It is the day the Sixers are contenders again. And the day that led to the demise of the NBA one year collusion rule with the NCAA.
Sometimes “it’s all about the money” is a good thing.
* For a much deeper look into the Jennings decision, please read:
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