that is simply not accurate.
NBA > ACB
Premier League >>>>>>>> MLS
Iīm sorry, but this is now really not a valid cross-comparison. Not trying to bash the MLS here, but just compare the structure and what type of players make up the majority of the Rosters.
It is not nearly as desirable for a good Euro to go to the NBA than an offer from any european club of Italy, spain, england, germany and half a dozen other countries would be for any MLS player.
fixed it for you. In Europe, which is where propably 10 of the best 15 national teams worldwide come from and where an equal percentage of basketball player/fans are outside the US, the Euroleague is more popular and more widely covered than the NBA.
What do NBA Fans in China matte to an european player ?
You are just wrong about the status of the NBA outside of the US. In every basketball country in Europe the domestic league is much more important than the NBA.
And by your logic ever player staying an extra year or two in College chickened away from Competition ? Tim Duncan not a competitor anymore ?
It might very well be argued that declaring for the draft and then not coming is a mistake and not "honourable" but not going at 18 sure isnīt a problem or flaw of any kind. And as said i am convinced that him declaring was more an agentīs move.