Written by Joseph Arthur, Senior Writer (@joe_arthur2010)
The upcoming NBL season will see NBA draft prospects LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton and Terry Armstrong all begin their professional careers as members of NBL sides, opting for a year abroad instead of going to college. There are many reasons as to why these players decided to skip college and join a professional league – some are different depending on circumstances, whereas others are more consistent across the board. In this column I’m going to look at why some athletes are choosing to play overseas instead of going to college, whilst also breaking down the rise of the NBL as a league and as a breeding ground for young talent.
Why move overseas?
Roughly 100 million people tune in to March Madness each year and the collegiate tournament is one of the most exciting events on any basketball fan’s calendar. The only thing that could possibly be more exciting than watching the event is competing in it. But if this is the case, why are more and more young athletes opting to play overseas, as an alternative to the traditional college route?
A big reason – one that is consistent among most athletes moving internationally – is finance. International leagues like the NBL give college-age athletes the opportunity to get paid to play, whereas the NCAA does not. The lack of payment for young collegiate athletes, who have their names selling tickets for big money franchises, is a constant topic of debate and has sparked plenty of controversy among sports fans. At the expense of their degrees, the financial certainty that comes with playing for a professional team is becoming more and more enticing for young athletes.
Another reason is the success of players who have formerly played overseas. OKC Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson spent a year in Australia with the NBL prior to the draft and Knicks guard Emmanuel Mudiay shot up to a lottery pick after a year in China. Furthermore, LA Clippers guard Patrick Beverley has found plenty of success since joining the NBA after stints with multiple international organisations coming out of college – the $40million contract he just signed speaks for itself.
Why the NBL?
China and Europe have long been considered the second best options for players who can’t make it into the NBA, or can no longer stay in the NBA – so why is the NBL getting access to the likes of Melo Ball and RJ Hampton?
The influx of international players down-under is because the standard and popularity of basketball has grown at a quicker rate in the NBL than almost any other league. Coming off a record breaking season in 2018-19, with more people tuning in and attending games than ever, it’s an exciting time for international players to join. Elite level talent and experience is among the league’s ranks – excitement machines like Casper Ware and Melo Trimble are selling tickets and the greatness of NBA champion Andrew Bogut and Olympian Chris Goulding is garnering more respect for the league among players and executives.
The NBL has no shortage of talent and for the NBA’s stars of tomorrow, having a year under their belt against professionals will serve them well once they join the NBA’s ranks as rookies. Simply put, a year in a league like the NBL is a great way to prepare for an NBA career and the NCAA can’t quite match the professionalism and experience of a league that’s full of grown men.
Speaking of grown men, it’s not just young kids who have taken note of the rise in quality of the NBL; former NBA players have come across from the states to further their playing careers too. As previously mentioned, Andrew Bogut is an NBA champion and former All-Star, but signings like that of former NBA veteran Aaron Brooks to the Illawarra Hawks shouldn’t be overlooked.
Brooks joins the likes of Al Harrington and Josh Childress as NBA veterans who have looked to Australia as the place to further their careers outside of the big-time. A league in a great country, with adoring fans and plenty of talent both young and old, is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Finally, the South East Melbourne Phoenix – the NBL’s newest organisation – is ready for its debut season and former NBA players and businessmen Al Harrington, Zach Randolph and Josh Childress recently announced themselves as investors in the franchise. This is yet another sign of the league’s growth – not only a new organisation, but an organisation that already has the confidence of former NBA players.
Between the additions of both future and former stars, the league has found a balance that’s allowed its standard to increase. Not only this, but bringing in well-known names from overseas has garnered more interest from fans and a thriving fan-base is a good indication of a thriving league. All in all, the NBL is on the up and up and America has taken note.
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