For decades, the NCAA and NBA have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship, with NCAA men’s basketball serving as a training ground for future NBA players. That’s not to say the NCAA and NBA have improperly conspired. They have simply acted in mutually beneficial ways.
Consider the NCAA and its more than 1,200 member conferences and universities. The NCAA and its members have clearly profited from the marketability of elite hoops. Highly skilled and marketable players help their college teams win games, increase ticket sales and enhance TV ratings. The universities themselves also gain. Winning teams lead to more appealing athletic programs.