College is Priceless

"I would love Kobe to come to Duke University to play for me," added Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski.  "I can't offer him that kind of salary, but he would receive a university diploma instead." Kobe said he might play for a Russian club team if they could offer him 40 million a year.

Coach K is one of the most well respected coaches in college history.  What he said may have be a joke, but I do believe there is some bitter truth to it.  One side of basketball encourages young, talented athletes to skip college (which is no longer allowed, a one year minimum must be completed) to join the NBA draft.  Another side encourages athletes to remain in college longer if not to continue to develop their individual game, and thus be more attractive in the following draft.  Many times commentators talk about maturing individuals in basketball, not just their game, but their personalities as well.  If the professional basketball business is so concerned about the development of the whole individual, why not have them finish college?

Either way college is four years of not just an education, but a time when ideas and interests can be explored and pursued.  If our society was not so focused on money, celebrity, maybe more people would value the experience of college and the freedom to grow up.  The NBA and respective general managers should not be hypocritical and assume their organization can help someone better mature than a 4 year college experience.  Also who knows, maybe after 4 years they may find out that they don't love the game as much as they used to.  It's a win-win because players are mature and developed, and scouts will be able to paint a better picture of who those players can be in the NBA.