Jodie Meeks “The right Decision”

I am still hearing rumblings from those who believe Jodie Meeks should have stayed at UK for his senior season. I know for most of these people it is the fan in them that are holding to this choice. However I agree with the decision made by Meeks. Well I will start with the obvious, Meeks was the best shooter UK had last season. But if he withdrew from the draft and came back he would not have had the same type of season this year. The reason being this season UK has a team that is much more talented than the last. Meeks would not have needed to score 40 points in order for UK to win. UK now has two true point guards that can keep the defense off balance. The big men down low are going to enjoy this season. UK now has a solid group of guards that can distribute the ball and create off the dribble, given the offense being installed (dribble drive) is designed for this type of play. Meeks would not have had the huge stats he had last season. Which is great for the wildcats fans, but not for someone trying to go pro.

Meeks excelled during the NBA summer League, he scored double figures in all five games. Meeks looked to be up to his usual ways when he scored 29 points in his last game of the short summer session against Toronto. Meeks averaged 19 points during the summer and was given a guaranteed contract for three years with Milwaukee, a good response considering being drafted 41 in the second round of the NBA Draft.  Meeks showed he has the ability to compete with NBA competition, an opportunity he may not have had if he did not declare for the draft this year.  If Meeks would have stayed a variety of things could have happened. Yes it is true he might have had another stealer year, but he also could have been injured, and Jodie Meeks is no stranger to the injury bug.  But even more so like I mentioned above, I do not see how Meeks could have had another year this season like he had last year. The talent level is increased and to put it quite frankly, the dinner table is a lot more crowded next season then it was last year.

 Let’s all be honest with ourselves the NBA is about the individual not the team. So you can see more than likely the stock status of Meeks would have decreased this season. Given the projections of late first round to middle second this year, there was a chance he could have not been drafted next season.  Furthermore next year’s draft is loaded with guards, and pure to point loaded more over all. So Meeks clearly made the right decision by staying in the draft. Believe me I would have loved it if he stayed, but clearly he knew this was the right choice at the right time. I would like to say good luck Meeks, and I would have done the same thing.