handed to them. If you watch the NBA nowadays, you will hear the commentators talking about one player or the next, and occasionally you hear talk about players being signed to ten day contracts. These are men who make SortsCenter's plays of the week, and they hove only ten-day contracts. This is a good indicator of how few spaces there really are in the NBA for new players. The reason that this disturbing trend is continuing is the one or two success stories that come from players entering the draft at a young age. Sure, Kevin Garnett is making millions and earning it too, but pro scouts described him as "one in a million." If I were in college or high school, I would not risk my future on one in a million odds. It is great to encourage kids and actually, it is necessary for their healthy development, but when the encouragement gets to their heads, that is when problems start to arise. Obviously, not everyone is a Kevin Garnett or an Allen Iverson, and kids could use to hear that once in a while to keep their heads on their shoulders and their feet on the ground. Some of the athletes that do opt to leave early have what it takes to make it in the NBA. There are really two options for making it in the NBA: 1-have what it takes and earn your right to a big contract…or 2-make yourself look so attractive to the pro scouts that you will be drafted high in the lottery picks. If your path to the NBA is number two, then you will most likely receive a large signing bonus that is guaranteed. This means you can be drafted early, make millions instantaneously, and be a total flop in the NBA. Take Shawn Bradley for example. He was picked over many people that are truly successful by NBA standards. That is an astounding example of the perverse nature of the NBA draft. Bradley has made no impact in the NBA, and could probably retire and live the rest of his life luxuriously, just because a team took a gamble, and a bad one at that, on him in th...
