In theory? This changes almost everything. Extremely talented kids, who would otherwise have their athletic abilities financially exploited in exchange for the ruse of a payment that is free tuition, having the opportunity to get paid far more than a livable wage to play while also developing into more well-rounded professional prospects appears to provide a solution to most, if not all, of the problematic issues wth the NCAA. In execution, however, it probably changes closer to nothing...
As much as people hate the NCAA, they love themselves some college basketball. For the players that are hopeful, if not certain, of making a hell of a lot more than slightly above six figures on an NBA rookie contract in a year's time, there is a value in being seen by as many eyeballs as possible and that value more than likely far exceeds $125,000. Those are really the only players worth talking about here, because they are the only players whose absence would get the NCAA's attention. Theoretically, it should be easier to fix a system so flawed, but the truth is that the NCAA has remained so stubborn in making any type of concessions as an objectively awful governing body because, in a lot of ways, they are a necessary evil. Until the high school stars that shine the brightest are allowed to jump straight into the NBA, there's just very little that can be done to give the prospects that move the needle a more alluring alternative to the exposure of high level college ball, and all that it's able to influence (e.g. draft stock). In essence, there is still a huge draw to being the big man on campus, even if said campus is making money off your presence on it. It speaks to how laughable it is to consider college basketball "amateur athletics", but the G League doesn't even come remotely close to matching the prestige of the NCAA and, be it legally, illegally, immediately, or eventually, that prestige often equals profit for all parties involved. Even if the parties that matter the most unquestionably profit the least.
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