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Skipping college for the NBA - Printable Version

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Re: Skipping college for the NBA - FarmBoy - 08-02-2012

I remember Kevin Garnett criticizing Kobe's decision to skip college for the NBA in 1996. The prior year, KG had essentially been forced to make that same jump because he didn't have the grades/scores to get into school. Kobe did have the grades, and he didn't have a financially strapped family, so KG thought it was wrong to forego an opportunity so many other people would like to have. I was impressed with the fact that he held those values and recognized the value of education in itself, even if he hadn't achieved his goals.

Re: Skipping college for the NBA - Hank 91 - 08-02-2012

When Kobe made the jump (long before Lebron's "Decision", a young Kobe called a press conference at his high school, and announced, "I'm taking my talents to the NBA"), his decision was almost universally criticized. Not only did observers feel he wasn't talented enough to play in the league, NBA officials worried that if a kid like Kobe (good grades, good scores, world traveller, fluent in Italian) bypassed college, what kid EVER would choose college over the NBA? It's interesting that Stoudemire regrets his choice. I guarantee that Kobe hasn't regretted his choice for a second. During March Madness a few years ago, as different players on the Lakers were filling out their brackets and trumpeting their alma maters, a report asked Kobe if he ever wished he had gone to college for at least a year so he could've experienced the tournament. He just laughed.

Re: Skipping college for the NBA - StannyBoy - 08-02-2012

I remember when KG landed in Boston he said he was a little jealous of his teammates who'd played in the NCAA tournament. I also remember LeBron saying that in interviews too, he's good friends with Carmelo so he was basically talking about Carmelo winning the NCAA title as a freshman.

Re: Skipping college for the NBA - Hank 91 - 08-02-2012

I think that probably has a lot to do with Kobe's personality. That conversation about the tournament was several years ago, during a time when Kobe would never have admitted weakness of any kind, even a regretted decision. It would be interesting to know his feelings on the issue now.