NBA Comissioner David Stern threw some shade at the NCAA by saying that the NBA D-League is better at preparing players for the NBA than college basketball.
From the Houston Chronicle:
"You know, the system works,” Stern said. “Jeremy Lin was overlooked. Some people think it was because he was Asian and others think it was because he went to Harvard. The thing I’m equally proud of and its importance will emerge in the future years as the discussions of the NCAA and its relationship with the NBA heat up, we have a full-fledged development league."
“I’m very proud of the development league. It’s working. That march is continuing. The drumbeats I hear about colleges not liking what they refer to one-and-done . We now have a league in the NBA Development League that will accept players that are 18 and will do a better job of educating them than the college programs in which they are."
Right now, it’s too early to believe that the NBA D-league will turn high school prospects into NBA impact rookies, but at least high school players now have another option rather than going straight to college. Ultimately, the players will either prove or disprove Stern's theory. If many decide to skip the NCAA and head straight to the pros, the competition in the D-League will improve and become a better tool for players to develop NBA careers. If they don't buy in, the NCAA will reign supreme.
