“Worrying about the players being exploited seems like an odd-thing to worry about. If they’re truly first round draft pick talent, they’re earn more in their first year in the pros than most people do in a lifetime. The “exploited” one and done basketball players are some of the most privileged people in the country.”
I’m actually not primarily worried about the one-and-doners. They generally do OK.
What I find most offensive is pigs and pimps like Pitino who line their pockets with the value generated by the players. Give that money to the academic side or the XC team and I’m generally fine. I also recognize that the last guy on Duke’s bench is likely getting overpaid with his $70k scholarship. But that doesn’t mean that it is OK to screw Duke’s star player.
While he has a nicer appearance, Coach K is just as big a pimp as Pitino. $7.5 million a year from Duke. 35% of all Duke hoops revenues goes directly into his pocket. Which can only happen if his players get screwed. Disgusting imho.