A sign of things to come, Duke player quits team midseason to prep for draft
Projected lottery pick Jalen Johnson “opts out” of the rest of the season. Not because of injury or anything. He just quit.
I actually thought we’d see this happen in football first. What do you all make of this? I realize he’s acting in his best interest, but is just up and quitting a bridge too far?
February 15th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^
?I’m thinking this guy just recently got friend-zoned. What else explains his furious, self-righteous diatribes?
February 15th, 2021 at 7:14 PM ^
I mean this has already become a trend so I’d say the future is here. Great players only stick around if they are going to win something of significance or if they need to improve draft stock. I think we are on our way to a semi-pro system. Guys that want to play college will be bound by an agreement that will require them to finish a season. Or you skip college and go semi pro. The college system will be preserved for bball, the talent may just not be there. Football will be more difficult of a situation.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:14 PM ^
His career, his choice. I imagine he’s doing what he feels is best for him. But the narrative will (rightfully?) be that he quit on his team, and that he runs away when things get tough.
There will be NBA teams that automatically take him off their board over this. He can’t hide behind the COVID excuse. His team is losing and he decided he didn’t want any part of it anymore. And again, that’s his choice. He’s got to think money is at stake. But if they were 14-1 or 13-2 as people expected them to be, he’s still on the team.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
This situation is complex. The player is acting for his own best interest, in his estimation, by pursuing a pro basketball career. Theoretically, he doesn't owe the university anything beyond the scholarship money, which is clearly more than offset by basketball revenue.
That said, I think a functional society, whether on a macro or a micro level has and honors social contracts. The social contract, which is less with the university and more with his coaches and teammates dictates that he should finish out the season. I don't think a micro or macro society functions well when we merely sanction pure self-interest. You need a balance of those things, and I think his decision tilts the wrong way.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:14 PM ^
And how exactly do you enforce this? Do you make the kid suit up and play every day? You know he's just going to sit on the bench and not go on the court.
Sports are not real life. It is not 600 people working to help a company run more efficiently. Employees are not going to be making the money that Johnson will.
It's on the NCAA and the NBA to figure out what to do about this- not the kid.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
Agreed. Also also, any NCAA coach can quit, be fired, take a new job, retire, take a leave of absence, fire his assistant coach who most likely recruited the kid, etc, etc. Coaches also get to reap the benefits of advertising dollars and cushy studio analyst gigs.
In the "real world," a university student on scholarship for say, engineering, who happened to be able to take a job making 10s of millions but risked that by staying in school would be praised for leaving and breaking his "contract."
February 16th, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^
It's not enforceable. It's a character thing. Not everything has to be a rule. We can strive to just be better humans, ya know?
February 15th, 2021 at 7:27 PM ^
Definitely think this is going to be a part of CBB until the NBA ceases the one-and-done rule. As I mentioned last week, kids with legit NBA aspirations have very little interest in playing college basketball. And that sort of plays into my opinion from a few months back about the decline of CBB in general...........I think there will come a certain point where the product lacks enough talent/too much parity to provide the requisite entertainment value. CBB product will get better if OAD is eliminated.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
Matt, I know you are the guru, but I have to disagree with you here.
While I absolutely agree the OAD needs to be eliminated, I think college basketball will always be entertaining simply by the high amount of incredibly talented high school kids vs the miniscule amount of those kids making the NBA.
College basketball will always have a pretty good pool of talented players. There may be a lot less teams like Kentucky in the future with 3-4 dudes on their roster that will go right to the NBA, but that'll be just fine. As a Michigan fan, I am absolutely loving the way they are playing, and they really don't have any high-level NBA players.
I don't think it'll turn into the XFL- but they do need to fix the OAD.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^
I agree with this sentiment. Matt I'm not sure how old you are, but they said the same thing when players like Magic, and Isiah left early. There will always be players. Kids develop at different paces so the talent pool will always be sufficient enough for the college game.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:37 PM ^
I’m in favor of them going straight to the NBA if they so choose but if they opt to come to college they should stay at least 2 years. Nobody is getting squat from this current arrangement...not the player, the University or the NBA.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
In this case, a big-time basketball university like Duke gets a shit ton of money and publicity for fielding a team of 5stars and one-and-dones. As does Coach K. The NBA gets to have a year to evaluate a prospect and see him improve his game. The Nikes and Adidas of the world also get a kid who has played and his already well known and has a fan base. IMO, the player is the only one who gets squat.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:56 PM ^
That’s totally unenforceable. Colleges can’t make kids stay for two years if high school kids can jump straight to the NBA. Think about the logic of that.
February 15th, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
Well they could make a rule that players have to repay a scholarship if they leave before two years. Whether they should is another question.
February 15th, 2021 at 10:17 PM ^
The NBA could though. It’s the same premise as the one and done. I just feel like you are getting more out of a situation if you go for two years. The school and the player will. If they want to go pro out of high school, go pro. I’m not sure why the NFL and college football have always been on the same page and college basketball and the nba never are.
February 16th, 2021 at 8:16 AM ^
Football players don’t really have other viable options other than college or the NFL. Basketball players have more options: play overseas, G-League, college, NBA.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:40 PM ^
Quitter.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^
IIRC, Duke's Men's bball took a covid break in December and their women's team is on Covid break now. If the young man has qualms about his safety in the program or on campus, then his announcement makes sense to me.
February 15th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
You can blame the NBA for requiring players like him to play school for a year when they are "ready" for the league right out of high school.
Clearly things haven't gone as planned for he or the team so taking himself out of the situation makes it less likely he'll be injured or get Covid which makes a ton of sense for him. Sucks for the team but it is Duke so they likely have another talented kid that will get more playing time
February 15th, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^
He didn't have to play school, he could have gone to the "G" league.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Agreed or he could go to prep school or overseas for a year too. G League is a very new option (the professional path was just added this year) so I understand a kid wanting to go the same route as the pros that they look up to like AD, Durant, Booker, DeRozan, Zion, etc.
These HS & College kids were only 3 to 5 yrs old when the one & done rule was added so that is really the only thing that they have seen in their playing life
February 15th, 2021 at 7:58 PM ^
Nowadays, you play for the name on the back of the jersey.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:04 PM ^
Anytime this guy reaps what he sows makes me smile. Fuck Duke.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:54 PM ^
Somewhat OT as far as the thread is concerned: Coach K is obviously not without ability, but he's a disgusting person. Thin-skinned, insecure, etc. The guy is 70-something years old and still dyes his hair. (For those in the audience, that's just one of many red flags.) This is apparently completely lost on guys like Cousin Larry.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:18 PM ^
I wouldn't play for Coach K either
(He's a vampire fwiw)
February 15th, 2021 at 8:23 PM ^
Man, I thought he was in it for the education...
February 15th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
So, hate the player... AND the game?
February 15th, 2021 at 8:28 PM ^
Karma = Duke
February 15th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^
I have been a big believer in any athlete, in any sport, that graduates high school should be allowed to go pro. That would put an end to all this shit, paying the players, quitting during the season, etc. And don't give me that shit about the kids not being mature enough, or whatever because we sure as hell don't have a problem with putting a gun in an eighteen year old's hand and sending them off to war. I'm sure they can manage.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:16 AM ^
Uh, no they can’t manage. Short of Lebron, ver few 19 year olds have ever been successful in the NBA, including Kobe. In addition, a ton of kids drafted straight into the NBA have failed outright. Not drafting kids out of high school is a very good business decision, why pay them millions while they develop into legitimate players? Why not wait until you have a better, though still far from perfect, sense of who will be good before you pay them? It is very common for a business to require a degree or professional experience, why is it so wrong for the NBA to do the same?
February 16th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
How much development are you truly getting one year removed from college? I'm not saying its pointless, I question the wisdom that one year post-high school is some magic developmental number.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
Is development the primary motivation?
A huge benefit of the NBA one-year rule is to give young men a chance to get away from home and make their own decisions for a year, rather than going directly from high school (and parental guidance) to NBA summer league and then onto a locker room full of adults, usually as the only 18-year-old on the roster. College offers a smoother transition, sharing the experience with peers, and adjusting to guidance from coaches and teachers.
February 16th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Well then there needs to be some kind of rules that players are required to follow. Not allowed to enter the draft straight out of high school? Then either play in G-League/Over Seas, or REQUIRE a full two years of college play. No "opting out", no "quitting". If you don't complete your mandatory years in college, then you aren't eligible for the NBA draft.
There has to be some kind of balance.
Why on earth would a kid straight out of high school NOT be capable of making in the NBA but 6 months later they're magically all set for the pros? That's absurd and makes zero sense.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:00 PM ^
Has not played a complete season since his junior year of high school. I wouldn't touch this guy with a 10 foot pole. What happens when he's drafted and decides he doesn't like his new NBA team? Serious ego issue in a team sport.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:17 AM ^
He’s been hurt, that is not an ego issue.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
He doesn’t want to play in the NIT?
February 15th, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
LMAO @ Duke. Kid buys the Coach K/Duke BS and is on a really sucky team. Realizes his coach hasn't taught him crap and quits for the season. Good for that kid.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:14 PM ^
Speaking of Duke, I just saw where Wisconsin-Milwaukee received a crystal ball pick for Patrick Baldwin, the number 4 player in the 2021 class. He had his others for Duke. I don’t get why you would go to a school like that? If you want to get the one year in, either go to a decent school where you can experience the tournament or go to the G League. If he’s not feeling Duke, there are plenty of other schools out there. I’m sure Juwan would take him in a heartbeat. He and Houstan would be great replacements for Wagner and Livers.
February 16th, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
I mean, I believe his dad is the coach at UW-Milwaukee, so there's a good reason to consider going there.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:21 PM ^
He did what he believed what was best for him and his development and brand by going to Duke. The G-League route just isn’t there yet to be the best option to showcase your talent nationally and build your name. And today he did what he thinks is best for him too.
Just because he’s doing what is best for him in his mind, doesn’t mean there won’t be downsides and consequences.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
I find it funny that sometimes, the same people yelling "he quit on his team" are also the ones who talk about "freedom". Shouldn't the guy have the right to do what he wants? Maybe he hates the coach; I dunno, it seems just possible.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:29 PM ^
It did happen in football arik Gilbert of LSU quit last season in the middle and is transferring.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
*Dook
February 15th, 2021 at 9:35 PM ^
Or *Puke
February 15th, 2021 at 9:51 PM ^
I mean, we don't really know how teams will treat these guys. Rashod Bateman basically did the same thing as Johnson did and it doesn't seem to have affected his stock in any meaningful way. Around these parts people questioned the heart and dedication of guys like Collins and Thomas, yet I don't assume their draft stocks demonstrably changed sitting out a year.
Most professional leagues are run by people who understand it's a business, and would cut guys in a second if it saved them some money or let them improve their teams. Maybe a club or two might throw out lip-service to how this reflects upon a player's character because they (a) really believe it, (b) know fans who think they're morally superior to others will like it, or (c) as a way to possibly depress the stock of a guy they want and maybe increase their chances of drafting him at their spot. But considering the number of truly awful people in the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. who get multiple chances at redemption and massive contracts because they are good at sports, I sorta doubt any team would give much care about this guy's decision. They'll care WAY more about his play and how it projects to the NBA than his decision to not play the last half-dozen unpaid games on a bad team during a pandemic.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:54 PM ^
How is what Johnson is doing different than football players skipping bowl games? I don’t like football players that make that decision to leave.
February 16th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
With bowl games your season is pretty much over at that point. There's nothing left to play for unless the Duke's Mayo Bowl Trophy is really worth it to you.
Duke still has a lot to play for, even though their record doesn't reflect it. Their season isn't over. Go on a run, make a deep run in the ACC tourney, or win it, and you are still making the big dance with a chance to play for it all.
If Duke was delegated to the NIT and he opted out at that point, I think most people would've said "okay, makes sense, best of luck to you." But the fact that he left when Duke still has a lot to play for is what people are getting upset over.
February 15th, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
If I was an NBA GM, I would prefer to draft a team player like Chaundee Brown than a me player. Who is going to help my team win more games? I don’t know this Jalen from Adam, so I won’t speak ill of his character, but from the outside, it’s not a move I want to see from a potential future employee. Character counts. Team chemistry is important, especially considering the long NBA season.
February 15th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
And you would be fired in 2 years after losing many, many games.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:38 PM ^
The real world is not a video game. The team with the most talent doesn’t always win.