In recent years, there has been an increase in guys finding ways around the one-and-done NBA rule. Emmanuel Mudiay gave up his scholarship from SMU to play a year in China before getting drafted by the Nuggets. Terrance Ferguson bailed on Alabama to go to Australia before he got picked by the Thunder. Thon Maker got around the rule without going overseas and still got a first-round nod from the Bucks. This trend will only increase as the NCAA still supposedly “doesn’t have the money” to pay their players.

This week, top-fifteen center Mitchell Robinson decided to forego his freshman season to train for the NBA. This was following a long a couple months of narrative where he left school, then went back, and now left again. His commitment to Western Kentucky was a big surprise nationally, but now that does not matter.

I think this move is fantastic for Mitchell Robinson. The committal to a Conference USA school raised some eyebrows to begin with, but his return there seemed to just be because he had few other options. Now, it appears he has finally made up his mind, and for his career, it is probably the best possible option. Playing teams like Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech, Robinson would not have been playing the greatest competition. Now, he will be building his body and working to get his name called in the first round.

The route is not necessarily the norm, but it shows what many guys might decide in the future.

Think of a player like Ben Simmons. His one year at LSU proved to be exactly what was expected: special. But, following the season he received some criticism about his “passion.” This was misplaced due to the fact that there was no desire for him to be in college to begin with. Simmons is obviously special and obviously loves the game, but immediately following the college season, he withdrew from school and went to train for his NBA career. Robinson is doing the same thing minus bullshitting his freshman season.