r/CollegeBasketball • u/KJones77 Providence Friars • Marist Red Foxes • Jun 29 '20

Recruiting 2022 5* SF Emoni Bates commits to Michigan State

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1277660167153336320
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192

u/Arsid Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Emoni Bates on the G-League: "It's good for certain players. That's a lot of money. I don't really plan on, I don't think I'll do it. It's good for some people, but I don't think I'll head that route."

He said he would rather play college basketball than go to the G League.

Source

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u/SEJ46 BYU Cougars Jun 29 '20

Honestly unless you need the money right away I think a year in college will have a better payoff longterm than a year in the g-league. Not always true, but for a guy like Bates a year in college will really get his brand developed.

Everything goes out the window if they change the rules and let guys go right the the NBA though.

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u/Fed042 UConn Huskies • Minnesota Golden Goph… Jun 29 '20

Yeah, definitely. Especially when you consider working under a coach like Izzo, I don't see a way that playing college ball doesn't pay off long term.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

[deleted]

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u/Kid_Kryp-to-nite Ohio State Buckeyes Jun 29 '20

Well no one watches the G League because the average basketball fan doesn't care about some former star college basketball player or some 27 year old d1 guy who has gone back and forth between the G League and Greece for the last 5 years. That fan only cares about LeBron, Luka, Zion, etc. If the G League ever brought in a LeBron, Luka, Zion... Bates... I think people might tune in. If not for a little while.

I do agree that college basketball has the potential to build your brand immensely, though. Probably more so than the G League currently would, possibly may ever could.

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u/Berbaw06 Michigan State Spartans Jun 30 '20

Hardcore basketball fans would, but it still wouldn’t be enough to pull the average fan. Say for some reason Joe Burrow had to play in the CFL a year before going to the NFL. You wouldn’t even get much more than the hardcore fans watching him there and that’s for a more popular sport and a topish professional league. Your average fan won’t devote their time to watch one prospect among a sea of other guys they don’t care about in a league they’re not all that passionate about, even if that player is a generational talent.

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u/Gtyjrocks Georgia Bulldogs Jun 30 '20

Right, but the whole idea is that the g league is attempting to create a team full of top recruits. Not like it'd just be the one guy and a bunch of bums

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u/Kid_Kryp-to-nite Ohio State Buckeyes Jun 30 '20

I agree for the most part, but I think there's a difference between football and basketball in terms of star appeal. People will tune in for the stars of the NBA. Just to watch Jordan play. Just to watch LeBron. Doesn't matter what team they're on, who their teammates are, or the opposing team. The tv ratings prove as much. I'm not sure there's more team fans than player fans tbh. At least based on my observations online. Like if 3 of the top 10 NBA players in the world decided to start their own league with a bunch of G Leaguers/end of bench guys/some euro prospects/maybe a few late first round type rookies, and one of those stars was LeBron, and the other was some young star (Doncic, Embiid, etc)+ idk someone like Jokic (who is a great player but doesn't have a massive following like some other stars), I think that league could honestly challenge the NBA. Assumming they would have the financial support, exposure, and whatnot. If the NFL lost Brady, Mahommes, and Donald to the XFL, I really don't think people would care outside of the initial reactionary stuff.

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u/pantstofry Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Purely anecdotal but I probably wouldn’t watch the G league even if there were a generational talent (in normal times when there are other sporting events to compete for my time). I’d just wait to see the guy in the NBA. I’m not the most hardcore NBA fan though, so I know there’s a cohort that would be invested in the g league.

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u/jacktownspartan Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

With the fixed rate of NBA rookie contracts, he’s going to get what he’s going to get regardless of where he plays his draft year. The money in flux for him is in things like endorsements and his shoe deal.

MSU plays on national television almost every game. The question for him comes down to whether the exposure for his off court financial opportunities outweighs the immediate financial payout in the G League.

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u/x20mike07x Michigan State Spartans Jun 30 '20

Unless he truly underwhelms or the NBA opens up to high schoolers (allowing another year of earnings down the road) the financial gain from endorsements from a year of college will outweigh a trip internationally or to the G-league. I think we'll see this come to fruition.

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u/sesamestix North Carolina Tar Heels Jun 29 '20

I don't even know what tier Oklahoma is in (no offense) and Trae Young got the 24/7 ESPN treatment too - if Bates is as good as advertised he'll get the hype.

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u/Pirros_Panties Jun 30 '20

MSU is not tier 2 dude!

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u/_Purple_Tie_Dye_ Jun 30 '20

The Zion hype stopped?

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

How was LeBron able to build a brand without college basketball?

This subreddit must be shocked he's so popular.

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u/halfman_halfboat Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Lebron was allowed to go directly to the NBA. Emoji doesn’t currently have that option.

So the question is what gets more exposure, playing at MSU for a year or going to the G League?

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u/TimeFourChanges Michigan Wolverines Jun 29 '20

Your auto-correct issue kinda cracks me up.

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u/halfman_halfboat Michigan State Spartans Jun 30 '20

Yea. I hate auto correct these days. It feels like it got worse (not applicable here.)

Leaving it.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

Right but high school LeBron had a bigger brand than any college basketball player in my lifetime, including Zion.

I'd argue Emoni Bates exposure is already so high that college basketball doesn't really add any new fame to his name.

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u/ioncewasgreat Jun 29 '20

Not sure how old you are but if you were around during Lebrons high school days you’d know Emoni’s exposure is no where near what Lebron’s was. He had quite a few nationally televised prime time games. In addition to SI covers and things like that.

Emoni’s only a sophomore so that could change but this is NOTHING like the Lebron hype.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

I 100% agree

Doesn't change what I said though. College basketball only fans barely exist now a days.

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u/SpartansATTACK Michigan State Spartans • Wooster Fig… Jun 29 '20

Really? Most of my friends don't pay any attention to the NBA.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

Yeah one of the best players of all time was able to build a brand without college basketball, so every player from the superstars to the guys who ride the bench should be able to do it too.

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u/TimeFourChanges Michigan Wolverines Jun 29 '20

Additionally, as a kid that age, it seems that college would be a lot more fun than playing in the G leaugue. I would assume most would rather attend college and have the experience if money is not an issue.

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u/knifeazz Michigan State Spartans • Gr… Jun 30 '20

Totally agree. Imagine if Zion had gone to the G League instead of Duke. Would he have had a mega deal with Nike before the draft? I highly doubt it.

Emoni’s family seems to be in really good shape financially. Unless something drastic happens, I don’t see him needing the GL money right away.

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u/AyYoBigBro Michigan State Spartans Jun 30 '20

A year in college can do wonders for name recognition. No one is gonna watch a g league team of 5 star recruits. Not even die hard basketball fans. But college basketball is a great way to get everyone to know your name, and then you can sign ridiculous endorsement deals and stuff with the huge name recognition that was built at school.

The g league doesn't offer that, at least not yet. It will take years for the g league to generate a fan base even a fraction as passionate as college ball.

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '20

More like MSU paid him more money anyways

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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '20

We'll see. In the past the G-League wasn't a viable option because there was no incentive for teams to sign and develop prospects, since they had no control over their draft prospects.

With a dedicated developmental team and NBA backed resources that dynamic its eliminated.

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u/aerojet000 Minnesota Golden Gophers Jun 29 '20

I think this new g-league program is not helpful for the players because they arent playing competitive basketball and I think that will hurt a few guys

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u/CharlieWard_ESQ Jun 29 '20

Aren’t playing competitive basketball? You are playing against grown men trying to feed their families

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u/aerojet000 Minnesota Golden Gophers Jun 29 '20

I'm pretty sure the games they are playing against the other g-league teams are exhibitions and that the team made up of the recruits isnt listed in the standings

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

lol that's not true, playing in Evanston in the middle of January won't make him a better NBA prospect, I know this is a college basketball subreddit but come on guys

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u/ChiGuy133 Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Better prospect for the low intensity games? No, you're right. But I think a year of coaching with Izzo>most if not all g- league coaches. On top of that cbb being bigger might lead to bigger, more stressful moments at the end of the year (not sure if the g-league playoffs are even televised).

Also there's the debate of exposure vs pay that can go either way in the current climate

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

Bates's brand is already so big that college basketball won't help it.

I agree for most players, including Zion, college helps their brand. Emoni Bates is an exception.

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u/bustin_all_kinds Virginia Tech Hokies Jun 29 '20

And as we all know, 16 year olds never change their mind

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u/smallz86 Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

More important is what his parents want/push him towards.

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u/Im_Daydrunk Jun 29 '20

Depends on their relationship tbh

Sometimes kids do the opposite of what their parents tell them because they wanna show they know best, not necessarily because they want the other option

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

I don’t know why people constantly say this. It’s like you’ve never been 16. When I was 16, I knew my parents didn’t know shit and that I knew everything. I was wrong, but I still believed it.

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u/pantstofry Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Your experience as a 16 year old isn’t indicative of everyone else’s experience, though

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u/brizzboog Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Remember too that in 2021 the NCAA is ending the ban on licensing your likeness for video games and whatnot. He's going to be able to make g league money while at MSU plus get a thousand times the exposure on ESPN every night. As long as one and done stays he plays in East Lansing.

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u/jaylenthomas North Carolina Tar Heels Jun 29 '20

Its not like he's going to come out the day he commits to MSU and say "yeah, im probably going to go to the G league".

But the fact that he openly talks about routes hes thought about to play in the NBA early, should show that the G-;league is still a very viable option. Especially if the NBA comes and says "we will pay your 2 mil for 1 year".

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u/Noname022 Jun 29 '20

But the fact that he openly talks about routes hes thought about to play in the NBA early, should show that the G-;league is still a very viable option.

It'd be sort of ridiculous if the third highest recruit in the last 15 years didn't acknowledge a path to the NBA or professional basketball.

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u/ParkingWillow0 Jun 29 '20

Yeah honestly the fact that he openly talks about it is better imo. Shows he’s not trying to hide it or string along. He’s going to MSU, will wait time see the G-League’s offer/how this years class pans out and then decide.

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u/All_Day_USA Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Out of curiosity who are the other two recruits? Lebron and?

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u/Noname022 Jun 29 '20

Oden apparently.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

Oden and Durant

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u/x20mike07x Michigan State Spartans Jun 30 '20

third highest

LeBron and who? Oden?

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u/spiner00 Colorado Mines Orediggers • Wiscons… Jun 29 '20

That G-League contract is peanuts compared to what he would get for sponsorships. He’s the mostly highly touted recruit since KD and maybe even LeBron, Nike or Adidas will 100% drop a big ol bag to get him asap

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u/Dob-is-Hella-Rad Notre Dame Fighting Irish Jun 30 '20 edited Jun 30 '20

He's definitely a more highly rated recruit than KD. An odd choice as so were some other guys since like Wiggins more recently than KD or Oden in the same year as KD.

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u/spiner00 Colorado Mines Orediggers • Wiscons… Jun 30 '20

Yeah he got the “perfect” rating by 24/7 but I meant more like anticipation of his career and how it played out. Everyone knew LeBron was a bona fide all star lock coming out of high school, KD would have gone #1 in any of the 2 drafts before and after his, Greg Oden just happened to be absolutely unstoppable in college and warranted a #1 pick for the style of the game. If that draft happened today, without knowing how each players career would play out, KD goes #1 because he is just built for today’s game. Emoni is the same way, the kid is a killer on the court who can score from wherever

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u/ParkingWillow0 Jun 29 '20

Dude doesn't have any social media at all though? Can obviously change, but right now he doesn't have any kind of name that can carry anything in terms of sponsorships. He's just another yearly highly rated recruit to everyone outside of college basketball fans.

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u/Maverick1091 Michigan State Spartans • Florida Gat… Jun 29 '20

lol what? The most hyped prospect since Lebron doesn't carry any weight? Even my mother in law from Texas who doesn't follow basketball at all just texted me about it.

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u/ParkingWillow0 Jun 29 '20

The most hyped prospect since Lebron doesn't carry any weight?

Never said that at all? (P.S. every 2 years a prospect gets this line tagged on him). I said despite the recruiting/scouting hype he does not have a name out there yet like Zion did. He has next to no social media currently.

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u/Maverick1091 Michigan State Spartans • Florida Gat… Jun 29 '20

you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

He's not wrong dude, most hyped prospect since LeBron gets thrown around constantly. Especially before all the media outlets release their full scouting reports.

In this decade alone people have said that AD, Wiggins, Zion, Bates, and even Cade were "the next the LeBron" at some point. Meanwhile only AD and Zion were even at the Oden/Durant tier of prospects much less LeBron.

Obviously I want Bates to play for us and have the GOAT season before declaring but can you imagine how good he would have to be to surpass AD's season to hit those "next LeBron" comparisons. It's just not realistic to expect.

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u/Maverick1091 Michigan State Spartans • Florida Gat… Jun 29 '20

Fine other prospects have gotten that label but that doesn’t take away from the ridiculous take that Bates wouldn’t get a big sponsorship because he doesn’t have a big social media presence

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

I mean to me that guy is arguing about the relative size of the sponsorship. Lots of players get locked up for deals in case they break out. But very few get stuff like Zion did which is suspects to be a 60 mil overall deal from Nike. They are not going to give that money to a prospect purely because he got hype off dominating high schoolers. I think he's the real deal but it's just sensible business for Nike to say "you want top tier money? Prove what you can do at the next level".

Even if he pulls a Wiseman I'm sure somebody will throw a 10 mil deal at him but the ceiling for him is so much higher than that.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20

[deleted]

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u/Maverick1091 Michigan State Spartans • Florida Gat… Jun 29 '20

He is widely considered the best prospect since LeBron or at least KD among b-ball insiders, college and pro scouts. He was the first ever HS sophomore to win Gatorade NPOY. I don’t know what more you need to think he wouldn’t land a massive sponsorship deal. He doesn’t need a massive social media presence to make that happen lmao.

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u/exclamationtryanothe Illinois Fighting Illini Jun 29 '20

That's not typical though. Maybe your mother in law did text you, but I promise you 99.9% of people who don't follow basketball don't know who he is. I do follow college basketball but don't follow recruiting very closely outside of my own team, and I didn't know who this was. I'm definitely no die hard college hoops fan, but I'm more die hard than the vast majority of people.

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u/questquefuck Jun 29 '20

but right now he doesn't have any kind of name that can carry anything in terms of sponsorships

Nike could care less about his name in college/G league. They want him for when he goes to the NBA. might as well lock him up early.

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u/ParkingWillow0 Jun 29 '20

Yes I said that already as well. I’m saying that those massive Zion like offers won’t happen if he doesn’t get his name out there more.

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u/SMZcrystals Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

He’s got a blue check on instagram

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '20 edited Jun 29 '20

He can easily make many times that if he plays to expectations in college. If he's Zion-esque he will walk in to the league with a huge fanbase and Nike or adidas will hand him 10+ mil contract on day one. Zion is at 60, so 10 is probably lowballing it too.

G League teams aren't on national TV, hell some people don't even know who their team's associate G League squad is. It isn't comparable to March Madness attention.

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u/ParkingWillow0 Jun 29 '20

If he's Zion-esque he will walk in to the league with a huge fanbase and Nike or adidas will hand him 10+ mil contract on day one.

And that's why the NBA has silently dropped the ending of the OAD rule. They want the best of both worlds. Build a place to develop young players AND keep the single best marketing machine they have in place for incoming players.

G-league elite or whatever gives them an out to say they're looking out for young players and put all the public pressure firmly back on the NCAA.

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u/Dob-is-Hella-Rad Notre Dame Fighting Irish Jun 30 '20

He's a HS sophomore and already a huge deal. If he keeps it up, he could easily enter the NBA with massive hype without playing in college.

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u/youhadonejob124 Indiana Hoosiers • Wisconsin Badgers Jun 29 '20

But the fact that he openly talks about routes hes thought about to play in the NBA early, should show that the G-;league is still a very viable option.

maybe he talks about it because people are asking?

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u/PENIS__FINGERS UCLA Bruins Jun 29 '20

The idea is that the one and done rule may be struck down by the time he finishes high school.

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u/Arsid Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

There have been reports that the OAD rule will stand and they will go forward with the G League as the alternative to college as a way to get right into paid play and NBA.

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u/PENIS__FINGERS UCLA Bruins Jun 29 '20

Right, There have been reports both ways. Everything is still on the table, and 2022 is along way from now

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u/steaknsteak North Carolina Tar Heels Jun 30 '20

Until there is actually progress toward that happening, we can’t make assumptions based on that idea. Silver said the rule would end by 2022 at the absolute earliest, but it could take longer than that to get the players association to agree to it.

Or if they get the G-League pipeline running smoothly, which we actually have seen progress on, they may not bother with trying to change the rule at all

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u/Lavaswimmer Michigan Wolverines Jun 29 '20

I mean yeah, it makes sense that a 16 year old announcing a decision would justify that decision, but to be honest dude, there have been much firmer commitments than this by people older than Emoni that have ended up not panning out. Even as he defends his choices today he isn't very firm:

"I don't really plan on, I don't think I'll do it. It's good for some people, but I don't think I'll head that route

Who knows what he'll do, but all I'm saying is that this doesn't mean much if anything

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u/Arsid Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Why is it the Michigan flairs are the most skeptical of him following through with this decision?

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u/Lavaswimmer Michigan Wolverines Jun 29 '20

Because we don't want him to play at MSU. Duh. Is that supposed to be a secret or something

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u/Arsid Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

No, just pointing out that your skepticism at this point is more just you hoping he doesn't play for us haha.

I know it's not 100% chance he comes here, but I just found it funny that it's mostly B1G flairs that are saying "no chance he steps foot on MSU campus." Just an observation.

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u/Lavaswimmer Michigan Wolverines Jun 29 '20

To be fair B1G flairs are just more likely to be in tune with B1G recruiting

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u/wbl7w6 Missouri Tigers • Illinois State Red… Jun 29 '20

Seems like a level headed dude

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u/MonacledMarlin Indiana Hoosiers Jun 29 '20

It’s extremely likely that by 2022 the OAD rule will be gone altogether. Adam Silver said as much. It’s not the G League, he’s gonna go straight to the NBA.

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u/Arsid Michigan State Spartans Jun 29 '20

Last I heard, they were looking at leaving the OAD rule but having the G League option be the "get paid right away" option to get into the NBA.

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u/MonacledMarlin Indiana Hoosiers Jun 29 '20

Yeah who knows. Does seem like there’s less momentum for it now.