I still can’t believe people thought this was going to work or kill college athletics. They tried to juice it with a few big paydays, but ultimately it just made no sense. It couldn’t make enough money to be viable because ultimately there is no interest in this, and there’s little to no need to invest in what colleges will do for them.
It was never going to work, and NIL nailed that coffin shut.
With the G-League going bye-bye. I will be curious how that changes the NBA's stance on allowing HS/Prep School grads immediately being eligible for the NBA draft. Recent legal rulings have attacked the NCAA model. It seems consistent to me our legal system would also frown on the NBA's age limit restrictions.
If that happens, do we see more of the top HS talent choose the Prep School route to prepare them to be drafted when they are 18. Watching the NBA Draft Coverage last summer was a bit of an eye opener for me. Many of these athlete's families are 1000% invested in developing a future NBA star from a young age. If the college model is the only path, they will leverage it. But I have a feeling, even with the NBA deciding to disband the G-League Ignite team. Some group of money-men will fill the gap. Especially when the day comes that student-athletes become employees and negotiate a CBA.