RealGM

From the wiretap:

Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will be going back to school this summer.

"Man, if some of my teachers could hear me talking like this they would get a kick out of this," said Durant. "But I'm not going to lie. I miss school. When I left, I was glad that I didn't have to go to class anymore and study hall, but I kind of miss it a little bit."

Durant and Green will not play with the Sonics summer league team in Orlando because of their decision to take classes.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... or_school/

I wonder if management encouraged this idea or disapproves of it? I say good for them!

I actually don't know how I feel about this.

I actually like that they're doing this.

There comes a time when we as fan need to step back from things and realize there are more important things in the world than our teams, and that these athletes are human. Kudos to them for realizing there's more to their existence than basketball.

You have two bright young stars in Durant and Green. They're setting a great example for young people, by continuing their matriculation even after they've made it to the NBA. This shows high character and the importance of higher education, and I hope that many other highly praised athletes embrace this approach. If there's anything that raises the image of the league's "Read to Achieve" program, players with college degrees(or in pursuit of) will certainly do the trick

While I commend Durant and Green for wanting to complete an education, I will say that it's silly how overblown stories like this are.

The reality is that their are some athletes that feel the need to honor the sentiments of their mother, father, elders in general who always speak of "life after basketball". Admirable, yes... realistically has an impact on their future? I find that highly questionable. The degree thing is nothing but a mere formality. Most STAR athletes that obtain degrees do not go into that respective field after basketball. Matter of fact, most star athletes stay involved w/ basketball via endorsements, PR, etc.

The reality is Kevin Durant has 60 million from Nike before his 20th BDAY. He will make well over 100 million dollars in his basketball career, with most of it being invested by financial advisors (a la every other major athlete) and he will be able to take care of himself and his family 1,000 times over for the rest of his life. I highly question if Durant gets a degree in say, "business management", he will be the one making business decisions down the line...

Nonetheless, you can't really fault someone for wanting to take the time to learn. I just question the true genuinity of an athlete actually getting a degree. After all, if that's the case, Durant's job right now is to improve as a player. He can always go back to get a degree...

Where do you think they will attend? UW?

BenjaminH wrote:Where do you think they will attend? UW?

Their respective schools of course- Texas & Georgetown... usually what most athletes do when they go back to get a degree

"Even though I love the game, I can't play forever and you can't do nothing without the degree."

Maybe it is a good idea

Sonics3408 wrote:"Even though I love the game, I can't play forever and you can't do nothing without the degree."

Maybe it is a good idea

Hah

DOUBLE NEGATIVE = FAIL!

Sonics3408 wrote:"Even though I love the game, I can't play forever and you can't do nothing without the degree."

Maybe it is a good idea

+1

Anybody with some Photoshop skills want to put Durant's face here?



Sorry for the shameless hotlink.

TheUrbanZealot wrote:While I commend Durant and Green for wanting to complete an education, I will say that it's silly how overblown stories like this are.

The reality is that their are some athletes that feel the need to honor the sentiments of their mother, father, elders in general who always speak of "life after basketball". Admirable, yes... realistically has an impact on their future? I find that highly questionable. The degree thing is nothing but a mere formality. Most STAR athletes that obtain degrees do not go into that respective field after basketball. Matter of fact, most star athletes stay involved w/ basketball via endorsements, PR, etc.

The reality is Kevin Durant has 60 million from Nike before his 20th BDAY. He will make well over 100 million dollars in his basketball career, with most of it being invested by financial advisors (a la every other major athlete) and he will be able to take care of himself and his family 1,000 times over for the rest of his life. I highly question if Durant gets a degree in say, "business management", he will be the one making business decisions down the line...

Nonetheless, you can't really fault someone for wanting to take the time to learn. I just question the true genuinity of an athlete actually getting a degree. After all, if that's the case, Durant's job right now is to improve as a player. He can always go back to get a degree...

I dont think they are going back to school with a mindset of "Ok if this basketball thing doesnt work out I got something else to depend on". Like Shaq, I think they went back to school because education builds character, or any other moral reasons, not merely monetary. Im not saying these 3 people are on the level of Kareem, but it is well known that when he played Kareem would read books during games when they had blowouts. Magic has said that Kareem can quote history and literature back to the 1800s.

TheUrbanZealot wrote:While I commend Durant and Green for wanting to complete an education, I will say that it's silly how overblown stories like this are.

Now, surely, as a graduate of the school of "posting like Anjonez," you must know the value of a degree...

TheUrbanZealot wrote:The reality is that their are some athletes that feel the need to honor the sentiments of their mother, father, elders in general who always speak of "life after basketball". Admirable, yes... realistically has an impact on their future? I find that highly questionable. The degree thing is nothing but a mere formality. Most STAR athletes that obtain degrees do not go into that respective field after basketball. Matter of fact, most star athletes stay involved w/ basketball via endorsements, PR, etc.

And their families/managers don't sometimes take advantage of the uneducated bread-winners? Tell that to these guys...

They both really need to work out this summer and become more coplete players. They have a lot of work to do to become premier players which should be there goal. WHile going back to school is a noble thing to do they need to first become as good as they can in their current proffession, I can't see management being happy about this but I'm sure they will make the proper PR move and say school first. Also we are suppose to hope that they do all they can for the sonics and the management will encourage that too they are their employer I think they just miss their friends and being the BMOC they really do not think that their basketball careers wont last because they wouldn't be here if they did.

Which begs the question: Does playing in the summer league mean anything whatsoever?

TheUrbanZealot wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Their respective schools of course- Texas & Georgetown... usually what most athletes do when they go back to get a degree

Oh, I guess that makes sense. I just wasn't sure. (I thought they may just take a few courses, locally, and then transfer them wherever.)

Sweezo wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



And their families/managers don't sometimes take advantage of the uneducated bread-winners? Tell that to these guys...

Interesting how you pick 2 people/circumstances that are the complete antithesis of Durant/Green. Gary Coleman was a little boy who had absolutely no control over his monetary destiny, on top of coming along during a time in which child actors weren't protected. Mike Tyson is/was a free spender who had no idea how to manage his money, plus had no genuine family around him to protect him from the vultures. You can't compare Durant and Green to them. On top of that, Durant ALREADY HAS 60 million guaranteed from Nike, and has much more control over his fortune than Coleman/Tyson ever did.

In any sense, Durant and Green as athletes fortunately have a lot less opportunity to blow their money since their character seems to be solid. I just doubt getting a degree will result in them parlaying that into a post-NBA career...

As far as your other comment- I've pretty much resorted to ignoring it, but don't you think it gets kind of old? Ok, I get it, I post like some other previous poster, but is there some incentive for continually comparing me to that person? The joke is already old, and quite frankly getting almost disturbingly obsessive. You as a mod, I would think, would show a little more tact or at least come up with some new comparison/joke. if it makes you happy though, by all means...

TheUrbanZealot wrote:As far as your other comment- I've pretty much resorted to ignoring it, but don't you think it gets kind of old? Ok, I get it, I post like some other previous poster, but is there some incentive for continually comparing me to that person? The joke is already old, and quite frankly getting almost disturbingly obsessive. You as a mod, I would think, would show a little more tact or at least come up with some new comparison/joke. if it makes you happy though, by all means...

I have mentioned this before, but I do not think that we are joking. At least when I say it, I am not joking. In fact, I doubt it was ever meant to be a joke. Why do you think that it is a joke? Do you think that it is funny? Please explain.

Sweezo wrote:Which begs the question: Does playing in the summer league mean anything whatsoever?

No. As evidenced by the fact that absolutely no established players ever play in the Summer Leagues. It was probably a waste of their time last year playing with such horrible competition and it definitely will be this summer. NBA players improve through workouts and playing against other upper-level NBAers, which Green and Durant will surely both do while they go to school (probably scrimmage with the teams there as well).

It might be a good chance for our new rookies to get to know KD and Green so we will be sharper by the time we hit regular season, but then again were not trying to be good for a few years are we?