Positives from this season...

[ousdahl]

As far as development goes, there’s also the consideration that the 10th place team in Greece allows him to focus 100% on development, instead of also having to focus on things that don’t immediately benefit his pro hoops career, like go to class.

Plus there’s the appeal of actually getting paid your actual market value in actual clean money, instead of hanging around not getting paid and/or wondering if you’ll get caught up in an FBI investigation.

[pdub]

I would bet the same amount of time spent practicing and training at KU would be equal to the same amount of practicing at some 10th place team in Greece.

[kubandalum]

I think it’s less that Dedric is emotionless than that he normally doesn’t show his emotions. This is worth reading.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/colle ... 47559.html

From that story I wouldn’t be surprised if Dedric decided to stay another year, though I wouldn’t be surprised either way.

[CrimsonNBlue]

As far as development goes, there’s also the consideration that the 10th place team in Greece allows him to focus 100% on development, instead of also having to focus on things that don’t immediately benefit his pro hoops career, like go to class.

Plus there’s the appeal of actually getting paid your actual market value in actual clean money, instead of hanging around not getting paid and/or wondering if you’ll get caught up in an FBI investigation.

He needs to get used to the international game and gets paid while doing so. That's part of his development. The idea that he's going to Europe for a little bit to get ready for the NBA just isn't reality for him. He could become a fan favorite over there.

[pdub]

Lesson here - give up on your dreams when you are 19 years old.

[Deleted User 75]

JFC

So. Fucking. Dumb.

[Lonestarjayhawk]

I find it hard to believe that Dok is going to be drafted by any NBA team this year. Is going to Europe or NBA Africa better than one more year at Kansas? To me it's almost giving up on his NBA dreams and accepting second or third best.

For people who don't have a lot of money I'd imagine playing in Europe or NBA Africa and earning 6 figures plus is better than 1 more year at Kansas.

And another year at Kansas will have minimal impact on his chances at an NBA career....it certainly won't have a significantly more positive impact on his chances than continuing to develop as a pro and earning money.

He doesn't have a skill set that translates very well to the NBA. That's not going to change much no matter where he's at.

His main benefits of coming back are to earn a degree from a wonderful university and to enjoy the college experience / lifestyle / continue to be a kid.

The counter would also be true. A another year in school would delay his journey to play overseas. But it wouldn't hurt his chances of playing ball for money at some point in his life, barring a major injury. I wish him the best in this tough decision. A degree is always a good thing to have in life.

[jfish26]

I honestly don't know enough about international ball to have a feeling about Doke. My (very likely naive) impression is that Doke is uniquely unsuited to the European game, which favors more mobile and skilled bigs.

[PhDhawk]

A degree is always a good thing to have in life.

Dok is probably different than the average american hoops guy, in that a degree might be very important to him. (I don't know that to be true). But that would make a return more likely.

It also seems likely that he's not just interested in money for himself, but possibly for his family. Which would make him leaving more likely.

He might also view pro ball differently than a typical american college player. I don't know that he'd see playing professionally somewhere else as giving up on an NBA dream, or settling, or failing to make it in the NBA. He might just want the best professional situation he can find. (I don't know that to be true) But that would make him leaving more likely.

[Deleted User 141]

A degree is a good thing to have in life. Yes, but lol.

The window to play professionally, wherever that may be, is not long. If he will be paid significantly, good on him. Let him get paid.

The degree can be obtained whenever.

[Lonestarjayhawk]

Dok is 19 or 20. The window isn't closing that fast. I don't know if he is going to 'be paid significantly'. Which is more valuable a year at Kansas or playing 'the 10th place team in Greece'?

If we are talking 6-figure, okay. If the money is chicken-feed, then maybe not.

[jfish26]

I think Doke’s earning window is tiny. Once he’s gone from KU, he’s not valuable enough that anyone will ride an injury out (or pay for or during surgery/rehab/etc.).

He’s not an NBA player, but he’s highly incentivized to make money now, wherever that might be.

If only there were a completely logical thing we could do to make staying in college worth his while.

[Deleted User 75]

I think Doke’s earning window is tiny. Once he’s gone from KU, he’s not valuable enough that anyone will ride an injury out (or pay for or during surgery/rehab/etc.).

He’s not an NBA player, but he’s highly incentivized to make money now, wherever that might be.

If only there were a completely logical thing we could do to make staying in college worth his while.

Always hilarious to see fans try to rationalize why a player should stay in school and play for free (or for smaller amounts of money under the table).

They can't separate their personal wishes for KU to be as good as possible from what's actually best for the player or what the player actually wants to do.

[MICHHAWK]

I am a phan of the University of Kansas. I am a phan of The Big Fella. I want one more year.

My rationalization is "what is best for MICHHAWK is best for MICHHAWK." It is best for MICHHAWK if The Big Fella gives me one more year. One more year might be not a bad thing, and maybe even a good thing For The Big Fella. Win win.

[Deleted User 75]

I am a phan of the University of Kansas. I am a phan of The Big Fella. I want one more year.

My rationalization is "what is best for MICHHAWK is best for MICHHAWK." It is best for MICHHAWK if The Big Fella gives me one more year. One more year might be not a bad thing, and maybe even a good thing For The Big Fella. Win win.

I respect that a lot more than pretending he can't get a degree while playing professionally or after playing professionally....or the laughable notion that players have "large earning windows"....even the best players rarely have more than a 15 year earning window. Giving up a single year in a 15 year window is 6.67% of his total earning potential.....for a big 7ft guy who has injury history it's possible/probable that his earning window is shorter than 15 years. Maybe even much shorter. If it's an 8 year earning window then giving up 1 year is 12.5%. That's a lot to risk.

If HE wants to stay then I want him to stay. If HE wants to go then I want him to go....I hope he does whatever he wants and then also finishes his degree 1 way or another because that will be useful after basketball far more often than not.

[jfish26]

I would even take the under if set at 8 years.

[Cascadia]

Illy is such a fucking nutjob

[Deleted User 141]

Illy is such a fucking nutjob

While in general I don’t disagree, I think he’s on point with this.

And Mich demonstrated the selfish nature of arguments against leaving accurately as well.

[MICHHAWK]

And Mich demonstrated the selfish nature of arguments against leaving accurately as well.

MICHHAWK is not argueing for or against anything. MICHHAWK is stating his desires as a phan.

MICHHAWK wants The Big Fella for one more year.

MICHHAWK wants DLaw for one more year.

No arguments. Desires.

[pdub]

The difference is that you can really capitalize on a good season in college basketball as opposed to languishing with the 10th place team in Greece where you are making $6000 a month.