According to ESPN.com, Lavar Ball intends to start his own basketball league for high school graduates that don't want to go the route of one-and-done in the NCAA before going pro. He intends to sign 80 players for ten teams that he'd pay between $3,000 and $10,000 a month. While on the one hand, I think this could afford some players an interesting opportunity, it comes with a tremendous amount of risk.
I have several questions:
1) The ESPN article says the league would be open to nationally ranked high school players, but how long would they be eligible to play in the league? Until they're drafted? Will the player pool be totally renewed each season? What happens to players who don't get drafted after one year? Obviously not every player in the league will be able to be drafted because there are more players than draft spots.
2) How many top high school players does Lavar feel he's going to get? If I'm a young player, aside from the promise of money, what's the draw for me to play in this league? Who are the coaches going to be? Will this just be an extension of the AAU game or will the league's intention be to further develop their players?
3) Who is going to be the fan base for these teams? Is the expectation that games will be televised? Most minor league clubs don't play in cities with major league teams of the same sport, is this league intending to compete with the NBA for viewership? How many fans will the league need to draw in order to break even? What will it cost to go see a game?
4) Who is helping Lavar Ball put this league together? I would have to imagine that putting together something of this magnitude would require the attention and expertise of more than one person. From renting arenas, to recruiting, to advertising, to contracts, to medical care, to referees, to travel, there are a ton of logistics to be handled. Is any of this, aside from maybe advertising, in Lavar's wheelhouse?
Don't get me wrong, having a league that serves as an alternative to college isn't the worst thing I've ever heard of. BUT, if I'm a kid in this situation, I don't know that $3,000-$10,000 a month is enough for me to sacrifice a full-ride to the college of my choosing. I also don't know that it will improve my chances of getting drafted. With no track record or guarantee of success, it's going to be a huge gamble for the first group of players and I'm not sure it's one worth taking with so much on the line. The NCAA, for all its faults, has proved that it can send players to the NBA. What can Lavar offer me? I don't know, but, like everything Ball-related, I'm intrigued at how this will all unfold.
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