Show Me The Money: Just Why Do US College Athletes Remain Unpaid Despite League Body Generating Billions?

Flops that skipped college basketball

Kwame Brown at the 2001 NBA Draft

In the quest for financial freedom, not all these players make it in the big leagues. Some took the leap of faith by chasing a dream in the NBA straight out of high school but fell by the wayside. Below are two athletes who were unable to make a solid impression:

Kwame Brown

This 6ft 11 center was regarded as the best high school player among his peers and initially intended to go to the University of Florida before proceeding to the NBA. However, he declared himself available for the 2001 draft where he was picked in the first round by Washington Wizards.

For all the hype that surrounded his potential, Brown only managed 4.5 points per game in his rookie season. Injuries derailed his progression throughout his 13 seasons in the NBA has moved around seven teams. In 607 games that he featured in that timeline, Brown averaged 6.6 points per game with his all-time low of just 1.9 points per game his final season in 2013.

Utah Jazz v Oklahoma City Thunder

Sebastian Telfair

He was listed as the second-best point guard of his class during his senior year at Abraham Lincoln High School. He turned down a scholarship to join the University of Louisville in favor of a move to the NBA. He was drafted as the 13th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2004 and started 26 of 68 games in his first season.

At the time, Telfair averaged 6.8 points per game. During his 12 seasons in the NBA, he featured in 564 matches and managed a mere 7.4 points per game which was a low return for a point guard. His last official stint was in the 2014-2015 season when he signed for Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. This was an all too familiar situation of a young prospect not living up to expectations.