Gilbert Arenas Talks About College Players Not Panning Out in NBA

March Madness is upon us. For NBA fans, this means getting a great look at some of the top prospects who will enter the NBA Draft next season. The tournament will be an opportunity for some guys to show how great they are, and it will also reveal who isn’t ready to step up in the biggest moments. 

The one problem is that college success doesn’t necessarily translate into NBA success. We’ve seen some of the greatest players in college basketball history fail to make an impact in the NBA. 

Gilbert Arenas, who played his college ball at the University of Arizona, was able to translate his game to the NBA. He spoke about why some college players aren’t able to succeed in the NBA. 

“I think people think your stats really matter at the next level. Your college stats, you’re playing against other college kids and most colleges, you know, you’re not going against top tier talent, you know, in your position itself, right? You’re playing a defense that doesn’t get played at that next level. So, you can be a great guard and then the next level you’re not even a basketball player, you can be an average college player and be a NBA superstar. It’s about what is your attributes, some kids are NBA players, not college players. Some kids are college players, not NBA players.”

Arenas believes that every player's game lends itself to success at different levels. There’s certainly some truth to this, but there are also other factors that need to be taken into consideration. For example, there are some guys who thrive in college basketball but are just not athletic enough for the NBA. Some guys struggle through a short college career before perfecting their game once they make the NBA. 

So, if you’re watching March Madness, know this. Just because someone is dominating doesn’t mean they’ll make a good NBA player, and if someone is struggling, it doesn’t mean they can’t make an impact at the next level.