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Mar 16, 2019
6:12:13am
Mabuhay Coug 3rd String
BYU leaving for Euro or other leagues differ from other players
As badly as I would have loved to have kept Mika, Bryant, Child, Emery, and Haws together for a few seasons, I can understand why some would choose getting paid now, rather than risking injury and dropping in draft rating due to being older. These players are married, most have lived in foreign countries and speaking a 2nd language, and the stipend for players is really small. Each year that they stay is another year lost of earning potential, regardless of if it is in the NBA or an international league. Euro, Spanish, Chinese, and a few other international league players can make more money than most college graduates will make after 5-10 years. Their career window is in the range of 0-15 years(if lucky) and then can come home and begin a regular career after living an adventure that most would only dream of being paid to do. Players from other universities do not have the same advantage and life experience that most returned missionaries have when they sign to play in foreign countries. Those that served in foreign missions know how to adapt to other cultures, speak other languages, and don't go in like an 18 year old kid leaving home for the first time to live in where few can communicate with them.
Mika, was one player that I understood choosing pro ball over another year of college ball. I do believe that he had poor advice, despite strong advice from draft experts advising to go back for a season, but he was prepared for life in Italy. Few players can say that they are going to the country that both he and his wife served their missions in. I would have loved that adventure as newly weds, especially in a country as beautiful as Italy. Not only is he playing for money and being scouted by NBA scouts every game, he gets to play in a country with no language barrier, no culture shock for either of them, and make a ton of money doing it. I am not sure what he is getting paid but I am sure it is much more than the small stipend that players make and his wife can still work while there if she chooses since she speaks Italian. Mika was possibly a 2nd round player or late 1st round player at best because of his age and the style of NBA centers. Euro ball will prepare him for the new stretch 4 and 5 centers that every team is signing. I read an article about this topic and how the back to the basket centers and bruisers of even a decade ago, have gone away with the zone defense being allowed and more Euro players. Each team has 1 old school center, at best, and then usually has 2 stretch players that can play the 4 and 5. That leaves 20-30 job openings at best for a center with an old school game. In Europe, he can learn that style, receive great coaching, play again better competition, and even if he doesn't make it to the NBA, he could still set himself up for life with a big contract and wealthy family to fall back on.
This message has been modified
Originally posted on Mar 16, 2019 at 6:12:13am
Message modified by Mabuhay Coug on Mar 16, 2019 at 6:13:37am
Mabuhay Coug
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Born to luv da cougs
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Mabuhay Coug
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3/15/19 11:15am
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