Anthony Davis: What's his ceiling?

Would they have the opportunity to play basketball for a living if no one watched?

Playing basketball for a living is not a God-given right. A free public education is a right. Making millions playing basketball is not. These guys provide a service.

So don't get all flustered if the machine that is professional basketball decides one day that keeping their asses in school for three years is best for the business of basketball.

 

Have you ever played a game in front of a large number of people who did not want you to win? The crowed creates the pressure.

 

Here's a story I found about McDavid. I don't really consider someone who wasn't good enough to get a D-1 offer to be a true part of a conversation like this: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/24/sports/pro-basketball-they-re-still-waiting-for-an-nba-payday.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.

 

NBA games are played in television studios.

 

I wonder if there's a risk differential for different kinds of players, much like it's riskier to draft a high school pitcher than a high school outfielder.

 

You mean the guy who oversees the league that will employ them has no say about their basketball future?

Basketball is a business with rules. Rules made by the owners and the commissioner.

 

And when players go to OKC, the crowd is hoping the opposing team does well?

 

Who will not be watching? Is the game about to go tits up?

 

Go to a Wizards home game sometime.

 

Go to a Northwestern game.

 

And what about Cleveland, Washington, Phoenix, Detroit, New Orleans, Charlotte...

 

The reason David Stern wants the minimum-age rule is not because the players are any better or worse coming in. It's because the NBA reaps the benefit of players building up their names and brands in college. Even just one year at Kentucky means a lot more people have heard of, and seen, Anthony Davis than if he had just jumped straight to the NBA. So the NBA doesn't have to sweat so much in building "stars," because they are pre-packaged. Not as pre-packaged as the four-year days, but it's better than hoping for a LeBron every year.