PROTECT THE PAINT

Latavious Williams became the latest in a potentially long line of immensely talented young players forgoing collegiate careers in order to cash in on their talents. Williams declared he will not attend Memphis, opting for a professional experience in China instead. This new trend–started by Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler–isn’t what the NBA had in mind when instituting an age minimum.

Expect Williams to eat well and train hard for the 2010 draft (Credit: Charles A. Smith)

Having spent a respectable portion of time in China over the past two years, I can assure first hand Latavious Williams is in for a treat. The Chinese are extraordinarily hospitable and ardent supporters of basketball.  He’ll receive star treatment while the fast-paced Chinese lifestyle will dictate a radical increase in his maturity.

Williams placed himself in a large market, and will be dominant, celebrated face in China. Expect endorsement deals with the folks of Li Ning. He could join Shaquille O’Neal, Jose Calderon, and Baron Davis as another NBA player with a Chinese made signature shoe.

Wil Latavious be the next face of Li Ning basketball products? (Credit: lining.com)

Latavious will make more cash during one year in China than a four-year tuition would cost. Which is the best Memphis University could offer him via the scholarship route.

The Chinese love their basketball. The NBA is constantly plotting expansion in China as a result. In the most obscure areas of China, you find more public basketball courts than in any major U.S. city. Games finds you.

You will not have to shoot jumpers on your own. Nor will you do something ridiculously sadistic like 1-on-1 full court with another Protect the Paint writer to attain your cardio. The Chinese are basketball crazed. Pick up games with long waits linger late into the night.

Congress and the NBA are “attempting” to make sense of this “must-be-19-years-old to-play” fiasco, doing more harm than good. They allow our talented youth pool to gett paid while experiencing cultures unavailable in college.

The NBA as a business should have a better training and support system in place for their employees, instead of using an age minimum to determine who can join the league.

At the age of 18, Latavious Wiliams can opt to enlist in the armed forces. His life could be cut short while serving his country. Also, he can be tried as an adult if he commits a crime.

That being said, how can the NBA force young and talented athletes to seek employment elsewhere?

Maybe congress and the NBA should start working on that.

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