Amath declaring for NBA draft...

[NickZepp]

Sorry, but you just aren't going to disrupt everything in the middle of the year and tournament run by telling your teammates you're bailing on them at the end of the season. To expect otherwise is ridiculous. He's a talented, athletic guy. Kruger should have been planning for this contingency, and I would imagine he was.



As for his decision, I can't say I blame him. The financial decision is a fine one. The top French league is a good league, and players get decent salaries. And hell, he might even make an NBA roster. Worse players than him have gotten a shot because of athletic ability. Plus, even with Amath back next year, we still would ahve been worse than this season, and we barely made the tournament this year. Coming back to play in the NIT your senior year is not an exciting proposition

How do you know this with the youth we had and the guys we have coming in? We have no idea how good we'll be next year. Could be a lot better team for all we know.

 

[TARUANU1]

"I had a chance to watch [Booker] on March 1 when he visited OU. He was shooting with senior Steven Pledger from beyond the arc. Let’s just say, Oklahoma fans are going to like when Booker is shooting from 3-point range."

Stephanie Kuzydym is from Indiana and presumably knows the game. I trust her eye for talent.

For what it's worth, Amath was projected as a second rounder on nbadraft.net for a long time but fell off their board at some point.

 

[bgrch1350]

Of course it's always a possibility. And I don't think there's a coach in the world that wouldn't be aware of that. But based on what has been said in this thread, it doesn't sound like he kept his coaches in the loop on what his plans were and that's not fair to his coaches or his teammates.

Do you think Kruger kept his players at UNLV informed that he was going to leave at the end of the season and take the OU job?

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Agree to an extent, but Jonathan Givony says Amath will command a low six figure salary across the pond, especially since he as a French passport and a mandated foreign roster slot won't be occupied. Amath is not a first round player, might as well cash the check early with a degree in hand.

How much would a second round pick make?

Sorry, but you just aren't going to disrupt everything in the middle of the year and tournament run by telling your teammates you're bailing on them at the end of the season. To expect otherwise is ridiculous. He's a talented, athletic guy. Kruger should have been planning for this contingency, and I would imagine he was.

i don't think anyone is saying tell the whole team. but at least tell the head coach that you are seriously considering it

 

[bgrch1350]

How do you know this with the youth we had and the guys we have coming in? We have no idea how good we'll be next year. Could be a lot better team for all we know.

We don't know for certain that a 1 seed will beat a 16 seed, and even though its possible for a 16 seed to beat a 1 seed...It would be foolish to bet on the 16 seed.

 

[bassmaster]

How much would a second round pick make?

i don't think anyone is saying tell the whole team. but at least tell the head coach that you are seriously considering it

How do we know he didn't?

 

[campbest]

How much would a second round pick make?

Nothing guaranteed, being picked in the second round is almost worthless until you go to camp and earn a spot.

He is going to give the summer league a shot, but the way I see it is he is taking the guaranteed money this year overseas instead of waiting another year and probably ending up in the same situation. From a time value of money calc, seems logical to me. Factor in all of the NCAA coaching restrictions in the summer, can't say I blame him.

 

[DenverSooner]

There is a major, false sense from a lot of people on this board about what most overseas professional basketball players are paid and their lifestyle. He's not making a very good financial decision. But, hopefully he can make a good overseas team and do well with them.

What do they make? I have asked this numerous times and get all kinds of answers usually from people I don't really trust a whole lot.

 

[campbest]

What do they make? I have asked this numerous times and get all kinds of answers usually from people I don't really trust a whole lot.

Depends where the league is located and what level.

 

[BoulderSooner]

There is a major, false sense from a lot of people on this board about what most overseas professional basketball players are paid and their lifestyle. He's not making a very good financial decision. But, hopefully he can make a good overseas team and do well with them.

most american college players that go play in europe make well into the 6 figures

 

[cosmic_sooner]

Obviously depends on the league and even the team.

But 75k-120k for most or many. 200k-400k for the best, leading scorers, etc.

I don't think Amath has 500k riches waiting for him though.

 

[ouwxman]

If he's going to Europe, then it's certainly not for the money but to be close to home. I can respect that decision, and who knows what his circumstances are like. Anyways, it definitely puts us in a tough spot with our best big man leaving, so hopefully we can pick up a good big man late in the recruiting year.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Obviously depends on the league and even the team.

But 75k-120k for most or many. 200k-400k for the best, leading scorers, etc.

I don't think Amath has 500k riches waiting for him though.

the best league in france spain greece russia the best players make up to and over 1 mil a year

 

[Smash Williams]

most american college players that go play in europe make well into the 6 figures

Jonathan Givony from Draft Express, who is very familiar with Europe, disputes this notion that everyone in Europe is banking well into 6 figures. (see third and fourth tweets specifically).

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/311556526622011392

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/311607783483125760

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/311610719865036800

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/311611301799550978

 

[qwertyqaz]

Good for him. Certainly can understand his decision and it really isn't too reasonable to question a guy who is almost 24, has a college degree, and living half a globe away from home. All the best to him and I thank him for his time as a Sooner.