Entering the 2020-21 season, Kentucky freshman guard Brandon Boston Jr. was seen as the team’s safe and unmissable superstar, who would likely end the season leading the team in a deep tournament. the NCAA heading for a summit. -Five draft selection.
Unfortunately for both Boston and the Wildcats, the five-year prospect’s first-year campaign has not lived up to the preseason hype, averaging just 12.0 points on a 36.0% shot. and 30.3% of three at the end with 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. . He has had his moments: 21 points against South Carolina, 17 points against Auburn, 17 points against Arkansas, 18 points against LSU, 18 points in Georgia, 20 points against Richmond, 15 points against Morehead State, but in Boston shooting fights constants have caused stocks of the first five draft selections to fall far short of the lottery, with some outlets even leaving it in the second round of their latest simulations.
Even considering the struggles and inconsistencies, most assumed that Boston’s original plan to do so was still the certainty that it once led to its passage through Lexington, to Kentucky’s victory over South Carolina. to the regular season. final. After what many thought was the last home game in Boston at the Rupp Arena as Wildcat, and it was also good, finishing with 21 points in a 7-13 and 6-10 shot of three to finish with four rebounds, three assists and a steal: John Calipari turned his head to imply that the former five-star prospect could really be on a two-year plan.
When asked about the struggles in Boston and the change of season finale, the UK coach compared his situation to Immanuel Quickley and PJ Washington, players who decided to return for a second season looking to prove they are capable to improve.
“He has never lost the fight. All this has cost him. And it’s also about opening your eyes to know as an individual player, man, physically, that is: I’m not where I need to be physically “, said Calipari. “We had other guys, it’s like Immanuel Quickley. Immanuel Quickley walked into my office and said, “Coach, I know you said it would be hard.” This is after his first year. ‘This is a lot harder than I thought and I didn’t have a good year. But I’ll be back and you’ll see. No one will beat me. These are the guys who should be back. This mentality. PJ Washington. This mentality. I won’t be doing show time again. I won’t say, ‘Hey, this is my team’ again. I will come back because I will improve and I can accept that I did not play the way I needed to. And that is much more difficult than I thought.
He went one step further by confirming that he will encourage his players to try the waters of the NBA Draft, but they may not like what they feel about the explorers. And if the comments aren’t good, “they can’t be delusional” about where they stand as players.
“I like it when kids go through the process because the teams will not lie to them. They will tell them the truth. Going through the process is good, ”he said. “Either any of these guys. You can’t be fooled because if it is, it will catch you. You have to be real and you can’t blame anyone for your performance. You are the owner. And then you say, that’s what I can do and how I can improve. “
On the surface, it’s hard to imagine the idea of a Boston-caliber player and his previous status as a potential among the top ten and possible recruits among the top five returning for a sophomore season, especially in Kentucky. Over the twelve years that Calipari had in Lexington, the UK has never regained that kind of players again, why would that change now?
For starters, the money difference could be substantial, which may be all Boston needs to feel when it comes time to make a final decision.
Looking back at the 2020 NBA Draft class and rookie scales for each of the top 10 teams, where Boston was expected to be taken in 2021 through the season, all first-year salaries exceeded the $ 4.24 million and four-year wages flirted with or substantially exceeded $ 20 million.
- Selection number 1: first-year salary of $ 9.75 million, four-year salary of $ 44.27 million
- Choice # 2: First-year salary of $ 8.73 million, four-year salary of $ 39.62 million
- Selection number 3: first-year salary of $ 7.84 million, four-year salary of $ 35.59 million
- Selection number 4: first-year salary of $ 7.07 million, four-year salary of $ 32.10 million
- Election Number 5: First-Year Salary of $ 6.40 Million, Four-Year Salary of $ 29.08 Million
- Selection number 6: $ 5.81 million first-year salary, $ 26.42 million for four years
- Choice # 7: First-year salary of $ 5.31 million, four-year salary of $ 24.13 million
- Selection number 8: first-year salary of $ 4.86 million, four-year salary of $ 22.12 million
- Selection number 9: first-year salary of $ 4.47 million, four-year salary of $ 20.34 million
- Selection number 10: first-year salary of $ 4.24 million, four-year salary of $ 19.33 million
When comparing these dollar figures with Boston’s current locations in the various prominent drafts, the difference is substantial.
- NBC Sports: no. 16: First-year salary of $ 3.12 million, four-year salary of $ 15.09 million
- NBADraft.net – núm. 21: first-year salary of $ 2.48 million, four-year salary of $ 12.15 million
- Hoopshype: núm. 21: first-year salary of $ 2.48 million, four-year salary of $ 12.15 million
- ESPN – núm. 26: first-year salary of $ 2.04 million, four-year salary of $ 10.45 million
- CBS Sports: no. 27: $ 1.97 million salary in the first year, $ 10.15 million four years
- Athletic – no. 33 – $ 898,310 for first year salary, $ 2.4 million for two years
- Tankathon – núm. 36 – $ 449,115 one-year salary (two-way contract)
If the difference is, for example, selection no. 16 in 2021 and selection number 10 in 2022, the risk of injury and achieving success may not be worth the difference of one million per year over four seasons in the league. Going back to the 1920s, we’re now talking about a difference of about $ 20 million over the selection of the first five drafts that were expected to come into its time in Kentucky.
Guaranteed money is important, but there is a strong difference between the life-changing money that comes with being selected at the end of the first round and the generational money that comes with being one of the top five. And with the 2022 NBA draft expected to be exponentially weaker than the 2021 class, it’s certainly not out of the realm of the possibility of returning to that top-five state with an efficient shot, a strong improved and continued growth as a defender in 2021-22.
If Boston goes back to school and averages, say, 18 points in 45% shooting and 35% three-pointers to finish with 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per competition, it’s back to the track. And that means a difference of 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.6 steals per game more than it does now, along with increasing the percentage of field goals by 9% and the percentage of 3-point field goals in just under 5%. Every leap feasible, and with Boston undeniably confident (he once said he wanted to be the best basketball player of all time), one would think he wouldn’t be afraid to bet on himself.
Beyond the numbers and money, and that’s certainly the most important part, Boston didn’t get the Kentucky experience he enrolled in when he committed to the show in July 2019. He did not receive applause from the exhausted Rupp Arena crowds, the warm welcome offered by Big Blue Madness, the typical focus and fanfare that includes events such as the Champions Classic and the CBS Sports Classic, hostile road environments and a multitude of SEC and NCAA tournaments. Off the floor, he failed to interact with If Anything, his experience in Sierra Canyon as a senior playing alongside characters such as Ziaire Williams, Bronny James and Zaire Wade on exhausted stages with celebrities sitting by the patio every time he played it was more ‘Kentucky’ than Kentucky was this season. Of course where it thrived and increased its current stock for the first time, without hearing the sounds of regattas, shoe screams, and bus screams echoing through the empty places.
Improving their stats and increasing draft actions could go hand in hand with getting things back to normal in the 2021-22 season.
Is it a deal made that Boston rejects the career path in favor of returning to Kentucky one more season? God no. In fact, if Calipari hadn’t opened the door to that possibility this past weekend, I’m not sure anyone would even discuss it as a legitimate possibility right now.
But Cal opened that door and it’s definitely worth exploring.