NBA vs NCAA: The NBA is Superior to College Basketball, Despite the Beliefs of Many

Throughout the Internet, the media and message boards anoint March Madness, the NCAA Tournament and college basketball as the best basketball and vilify the NBA, the league which features less than the top 1% of NCAA players. After watching the NCAA Tournament's anti-climatic finish, despite the presence of its top two teams, would fans really rather watch Florida vs. Ohio State than the seventh game of a Dallas vs. Phoenix Western Conference Finals? Personally, I would forfeit watching the entire NCAA Tournament if my choice was to watch either the NCAA Tournament or a seven game Phoenix/Dallas series.

People love the pageantry and amateurism of college basketball, while they detest the multi-millionaire, spoiled brats of the NBA. They envision college players working hard, going to class and being part of the college campus; they picture the star shooting guard as the kid across the street. They figure NBA players spend all night at strip clubs and roll into the arena, throw on a jersey and jack up shots; for most people, they have a hard time imagining someone they know playing in the NBA.

These caricatures are totally false. Sure, some college players embrace college life, love attending class and work hard. However, others walk around campus like they own the place, talk back to professors and make a mockery of the idea of student-athletes. Some NBA players frequent strip clubs, have outstanding warrants and take bad shots; however, others arrive three hours before a game to workout after making a public appearance at a school or hospital.