Arizona Basketball: One or two and done, a good thing?

Arizona Basketball fans have cheered for their share of ‘One and Done’ Wildcats; it’s hard to say goodbye, and it’s difficult for the player.

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Arizona Basketball fans disagree on whether or not a player should declare for the draft. There is also a new rule for players who want to test the waters to go to the combine (if asked) to find out his projected draft slot. They can decide not to leave college as long as they don’t hire an agent.

Basketball fans get glimpses into the lives of young NBA players drafted in the first round through interviews, social media, and pure observation. The NBA and NCAAB worlds have changed due to the ‘One and Done’ rule. This rule not only disrupts NCAA teams but wreaks havoc on recruiting for college coaches who never know if recruits will commit or a player will declare.

Case in point No. 1 Derrick Williams: Second pick overall in the 2011 NBA Draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves

Derrick Williams was a God on campus, and he wove himself into the Tucson fabric. He started a clothing company and returned to campus to visit often. He declared for the NBA draft and was drafted second overall, so there were high expectations from everyone inside and outside the NBA.

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Derrick Williams (13) dunks against Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) in the first half during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Unfortunately for Williams, the NBA suffered a lockout the season he was supposed to start his professional career. So he wasn’t in school and he wasn’t playing in the NBA.

During the lockout, NBA players and rookies practiced at the local high school. To give back to the school, they decided they would play a pickup game and raise money through selling tickets. My youngest and I found out that D-Will would be there and we got in the car and rushed to the gym. Derrick was late, he came in through the back door, head hanging low and walking slowly.

We noticed he was clad in Arizona Wildcats gear from head to toe, so were we. We yelled out “BearDown D-Will” and that got him to smirk a bit. He didn’t play very well and seemed just not wanting to be there with fans wanting autographs. My daughter was probably 13 years old, now a Wildcat herself, and took off her sweatshirt to have him sign it and take a picture with him.

I gushed all over him, telling him how much he meant to us and how fun it was to cheer him on at Arizona. He barely cracked a smile to us or anyone else. I am telling you this to illustrate a point, leaving school early makes you a millionaire if you are drafted high, but that doesn’t guarantee you will be happy.

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Seem to remember reading that California native and Tucson resident Williams was lonely in freezing cold Minnesota without his college teammates. Can you blame him? On top of it all, the team didn’t fit his style of play, so he was traded to Sacramento after just two years.

At Sacramento, Williams started out strong, but it seemed that his skills were not leveraged by the multiple coaches he had. Derrick went to NYC to talk to Phil Jackson about the Triangle Offense, and decided he was a strong fit for the Knicks, but this time, he chose the team he wanted to play for, and it has been working out beautifull y.

Case in point No. 2 Aaron Gordon: Drafted fourth overall to the Orlando Magic

Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Orlando Magic player Aaron Gordon (00) dunks the ball over Magic mascot “Stuff” during the slam dunk contest during the All-Stars Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Aaron Gordon’s story is a little bit sweeter. Aaron moved to Orlando and was an integral part of the team even though the was the youngest player in the NBA that season at 19 years old. He suffered and injury and had surgery early on in the season. Before the injury, he boasted an average of 5.8 points and three rebounds in 15 minutes a game off the bench with his a career-best at that time with 17 points in only 11 games.

Gordon was out about two months or so. During that time, he posted photographs on Instagram of him playing video games alone in a room in Minnesota stating basically that he was lonely. Same story; God on the UofA campus, parties and social life everywhere, teammates with just college and basketball 24/7, then a millionaire who is under 20 years old all alone in the lap of luxury but miserable.

Gordon’s now one of two sweethearts of the NBA after winning (even though he didn’t get the trophy) the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest.

This isn't an in-game dunk. Aaron Gordon is a freak. https://t.co/BhaUs993ch
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) March 30, 2016

Case in point No. 3: Stanley Johnson drafted No. 8 by the Detroit Pistons and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson drafted No. 23 traded to the New Jersey Nets in the 2015 NBA Draft

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) moves to the basket against Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) and forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) during the second half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Now, I am not going to tell you Stanley and Rondae are suffering or have suffered that much in their first year in the NBA. Both have done rather well on their respective teams, and their fans have quickly adopted them.

But if you follow them on social media, especially Rondae on Snapchat, they enjoy going back to the UofA campus to visit and partake in the parties and college life. So of the four, these two have fared the best but still pine for their school campus.

Summary

The point I am trying to make here is that it isn’t all glorious for one or two-and-done athletes. After learning of D’Angelo Russell’s bro-code breaking Snapchat video this week, his Lakers teammates shunned and alienated him, all of them young and seasoned. It’s not easy for a teen to live, grow and hang with seasoned professional. As millennials, their coaches have a hard time motivating and helping them acclimate.

If you watch T.J. McConnell, in college for five years, you can see he has adjusted almost seamlessly.

I also don’t envy coach Miller’s job when he has to recruit. He has to figure out who to offer while he is still waiting to see who will leave! And then players like Justin Simons have to re-evaluate their position on the team with the incoming and outgoing teammates and end up deciding to transfer just to get play time.

I guess it is what it is, and everyone will just have to wait with bated breath to find out if Zo is leaving and if Josh Jackson and Terence Ferguson will commit to Arizona for one year and leave for the NBA. After all, that is the promise Miller has to make to get these recruits to decide to come to Arizona.

Good luck to coach for the fans sake! And good luck to all the newbie draftees who will start their professional life at such a young age. We hope they acclimate and adjust quickly and find happiness.

More wildcats: The Arizona Baseball dugout is the best place to be on Campus

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