Should Oden go pro?
This is a no brainer. Yes!!!! I am not saying that because I want the Illini to have a better shot at beating OSU next year. After all, even without Oden they are going to beat the Illini. Unfortunately, NCAA men’s basketball is a profit-driven machine that gives nothing back to its athletes. So, why shouldn’t Oden be the one making the money in the pros. Let’s face it, if he goes pro, he is the number one pick (at worst no. 2) and makes whatever the rookie max contract is (probably 4-5 million a year for 4 years) and he also signs at least a 30 million dollar endorsement contract. That is a guaranteed 50 million.
Hmmmm… did I enjoy college? Yes. I really, really enjoyed my undergraduate years. Would I trade those 4 years for 50 million dollars? Yes. Although the memories are “priceless”, I could make just as many “priceless” memories with 50 million dollars.
Also, that isn’t even the extent of Oden’s financial future. Right now he is still 18. So, even if he turns 19 sometime soon, he would only be 23-years-old when his rookie-constrained contract expires. Now if Tyson Chandler can dictate 8-9 million a year for 7-8 years when he did nothing and showed very little potential, how much will Oden be worth even if he doesn’t show improvement? His next contract could be worth in the 100 million dollar range and that is guaranteed money.
Unfortunately, I love NCAA basketball. It has lost its luster though. The NCAA claims to protect sports and athletes, but it only has its own intersest at stake (as Myles Brand always does). So, Oden needs to think of his own interests. Go pro… get the money… make your memories during the off-season.