NBA player Ben Simmons is taking on the NCAAA in new documentary. One and Done will follow Simmons journey from his childhood in Australia, his high school career in Orlando and then his one year at Louisiana State University. If you aren’t familiar with the term “one and done,” it refers to NCAA basketball players who attend college for one year before entering into the NBA Draft. Simmons recalls his one year at LSU and sheds light on what its like to be a student athlete.
In the documentary, Simmons is candid about what it is like for players. “Everybody’s making money except the players. We’re the ones waking up early as hell to beat the best teams and do everything they want us to do and then the players get nothing,” He also calls the NCAA system a hypocritical one for not paying players, but making millions off of them. Simmons isn’t alone when it comes to his belief of players getting paid. Jay-Z also discussed it in his verse on the DJ Khaled’s “They Don’t Love You No More.”
The question of whether players should get paid or not isn’t a new one. It’s a topic that is continuously up for debate. Many of the players are making millions for the NCAA, yet going to bed hungry. Former UConn player, Shabazz Napier, shared the challenges he faced being an NCAA athlete who isn’t allowed to profit off his talent.”We do have hungry nights that we don’t have enough money to get food in. Sometimes money is needed. I don’t think you should stretch it out to hundreds of thousands of dollars for playing, because a lot of times guys don’t know how to handle themselves with money. I feel like a student athlete. Sometimes, there’s hungry nights where I’m not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.”
The documentary is set to air on Showtime this Friday, November 4 at 9 p.m. Maybe the documentary will shed light on the many issues student athletes are facing. No matter what side of the debate you’re on, no student should go to bed hungry.
Check out the trailer below:
