Though Bryant struggled his first year in the NBA, he has been nothing but exceptional since. He has won three NBA titles and is a member of the last five NBA All-Star games. Kobe is also bringing in $12.3 million dollars a year from the Los Angeles Lakers, not to mention the millions that he is making from endorsements from Mattel, McDonalds, Sprite, and Adidas (www.jockbio.com). After Kobe's success, every star high school player wanted a piece of the cash. .
Before Lebron James even slipped on a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, Nike had already placed a $100 million price tag on this eighteen year old. That didn't even include his $18.9 million dollar five year salary (www.NBA.com). When an eighteen year old is offered this kind of money why should he want to go to college? The choice is easy when it comes down to living another four years of your life broke and restricted by the ruthless rules and regulations of the NCAA, or living happily making millions. Playing a professional sport for one year these days will give you enough money to live on for the rest of your life. However, this is the very reason that college programs and athletes are beginning to suffer.
When high school kids watch TV they see Amare Stoudamire, a 21 year old kid who is making $1.7 million a year playing basketball and averaging 15 points a game. They see Kobe Bryant, a 25 year-old who is worth $12.3 million dollars a year (before endorsements) that has won three NBA titles. These kids are never told the stories of Korleone Young, a high school senior in 1996 who was ESPN National High School Player of the Year. He was told he would do great in the NBA. He was drafted in the second round, scored a career high five points, and now has no job in the NBA as he was cut by the Philadelphia 76ers after only three seasons. Toney Key graduated from high school in 2001 expecting to be one of the top picks in the NBA draft.