by Eric Bailey

Created on: January 05, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

Sports are an enormously influential and significant portion of modern world culture, with countless millions of fans, both ardent and casual alike. Specifically for basketball, one loose categorization of those followers is between those who are loyal to the college game and those who follow the professional league, the NBA or National Basketball Association.

The rift is so notable that many will even argue the merits of their particular brand of ball, and will not be able to see the allure of the opposing view. In reality, each side of the debate, whether amateur or professional, has its pros and cons through certain factors.

Money

In the NBA, even the average player makes millions of dollars per season, and today’s highest-paid superstars are signed to contracts worth over $100 million, not counting their resultant endorsement deals and other bonuses.

While some would say this is hefty incentive for playing hard and for championships, others would point out that college players truly play for the joy of the game, since they do not receive such outlandish compensation.

The truth is probably somewhere in between: Many NBA players probably genuinely enjoy the game, even if they receive seven-digit paychecks regardless of their level of play.

Loyalty

Fans of the NBA sometimes grow jaded and embittered when a prominent player is with a franchise for several seasons then suddenly departs for another club, sometimes under questionable or shallow motivations. In college, this issue is eliminated, as players rarely change schools.

However, in the collegiate arena, these basketballers also hardly ever play for more than four years, eliminating the possibility for truly long-term player-fan relationships to develop for a noteworthy following.

One unique possibility, though, is that fans can follow teams from the college they attended, but very rarely can you watch a game with someone who follows an NBA team because he used to play for them.

Competition

Professional teams draft their talent from colleges, high schools, international leagues, and elsewhere, with all organizations seeking the absolute best in potential ability on the court.

The game is fiercely competitive, with a multi-tier tournament at the conclusion of every season, with each tier representing a best-of series. The NBA has certainly sported some of the all-time greatest talent ever to hit the hardwood. But in college, the same can be said, as some players have even had astounding collegiate success yet failed to find their groove for a pro team.

In addition, the NCAA actually hosts a tournament that is comparable in scope and popularity to the NBA playoffs, which fans follow with such fervor that the month in which it is held is referred to as “March Madness.”

In the end, there is no clear answer as to which preference is better. Like many issues, it will boil down to a case-by-case basis and hinge on individual choice.

Each option, college and NBA, offers competitive basketball with fine talent on showcase. The ultimate conclusion is that roundball fans everywhere have multiple viable options to get their fix.

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