You could see the pride on LeBron James’ face and the emotion in his voice as he discussed his son, Bronny, choosing to stay close to home and play basketball for USC.
LeBron was proud that his oldest would be attending college. That, according to James, will make him the first in the family to do so.
“To my knowledge, this is the first one out of the James gang to go to college,” said James.
That’s an incredible moment for the entire James family, one that should be celebrated and cherished by all.
Yet during his postgame speech after beating the Warriors, LeBron said something regarding Bronny that really stood out.
But it wasn’t about being the first in the family to attend college or how proud he was as a father.
Instead, it was a simple statement that exposed the reality of today’s college basketball system, a reality that we all know exists but one most sports fans don’t really harp on as it’s simply understood and more widely accepted now.
“USC is getting a great kid,” said James. “He’s there to play basketball but they’re going to be super surprised to see how great a kid he is.”
For those who deny that the current iteration of college basketball for top recruits is to solely play ball, LeBron just shattered your traditionalist notions of today’s student athletes and college sports. The latter is big business and the former is there to complete the rosters for the university money-making machines.
The three and four years stars and college basketball dynasties are long gone. In 2006, after the NBA instituted the current 19-year-old age limit rule that mandates players be one year removed from high school to be eligible for the NBA Draft, basketball players with NBA potential like Kevin Durant and Brandon Jennings made their decision.
They either enrolled in college for a year to fulfill the NBA’s requirement, like Durant, or they went overseas for a year, like Jennings. That process forged forward with little hindrance at institutions like Kentucky where John Calipari perfected the one-and-done system.
And with the introduction of the G League and Overtime, players have more options on their path toward the NBA.
The NBA and NBPA have had discussions about lowering the age limit to 18, which would help alleviate the one-and-done issue. And while NIL makes enrolling in college more enticing and rewarding, it isn’t enough to keep elite talent from making the jump to the league after one season.
The Commission on College Basketball believes that one-and-done has destabilized college basketball as elite players are simply spending one season in college and then bouncing to the league. That prevents programs from building for the future.
“One-and-done has played a significant role in corrupting and destabilizing college basketball, restricting the freedom of choice of players, and undermining the relationship of college basketball to the mission of higher education,” stated the Commission. “Elite high school players with NBA prospects and no interest in a college degree should not be ‘forced’ to attend college, often for less than a year.”
And they might have a point as evidenced by the number of freshmen drafted over the last few years.
In the 2017 NBA Draft, the top five picks were all college freshmen. Markelle Fultz went to the 76ers, Lonzo Ball went to the Lakers, Jayson Tatum to the Celtics, the Suns picked Josh Jackson and the Kings selected De’Aaron Fox. In total, 16 freshmen went in the first round, beating the previous record of 13 in 2015. A year later, that number jumped to 18.
Even crazier? Since 2010, every number one overall pick has been a freshman.
While the age debate rages on, LeBron made Bronny’s job at USC crystal clear. He’s there to learn on the court, not in the classroom. That’s the reality for current college basketball stars.
And while that fails to surprise, it was eye opening to hear LeBron say the quiet part out loud.
So if you’re looking for Bronny this upcoming season, you’ll more likely to find him at the Galen Center, not in the Leavey library.
