That Early Jump to the NBA Can Cause a Hardship

Chris Washburn left North Carolina State after his sophomore season to enter the NBA.

In a single afternoon, when the Golden State Warriors selected him as the third player in the draft, the 6-foot-10 center went from struggling college student to millionaire.

That’s when the trouble started.

“One of the first problems an athlete faces is with his personal maturity,” said Tom Sanders, a former coach and player with the Boston Celtics. “I know you are only talking about three or four more years, but that’s enough to give the player that little bit more maturity he may need.

“Younger guys are used to people taking care of them--their parents and guardians. If a guy has gone to school for four years he’s had to worry about cooking meals and taking care of himself.”

Since the league allowed players to gain early entrance in 1976, 71 players have left school before graduation. Those include some of the game’s best--Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan.

In 1986, Washburn was joined by Memphis State center William Bedford, St. John’s forward Walter Berry and Syracuse guard Dwayne (Pearl) Washington as the draft’s celebrated underclassmen.

Berry has had the most success, but only after being traded from Portland to San Antonio. He is now the Spurs’ second leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points a game.

Bedford was undermined by knee surgery.

“It’s no secret, he hasn’t done very well,” said Dick Van Arsdale, the Phoenix Suns interim coach. “One of the biggest problem he has had is recovering from preseason knee surgery. He came back and was dragging his leg. He couldn’t compete like that so we put him on the disabled list with 10 games to go and started his rehabilitation for next year.”

Van Arsdale said players like Bedford have a misconception about being a pro.

“Most college athletes don’t realize how difficult of a life it is being a professional basketball player,” he said. “They don’t realize the work ethic it takes to be star in today’s game.”

Washington was heralded by the New Jersey Nets as the replacement for Micheal Ray Richardson, who was kicked out of the league for using cocaine. However, Washington failed to run the offense and was a reserve by midseason.

“He has been through a difficult time this year,” Net guard Otis Birdsong said. “He could have given up on himself, but he just hung in there.”

Like Bedford and Washburn, Washington has struggled. A player may rely on natural talent in college, but in the NBA, where talent is more evenly matched, the difference is often dedication.

“I think he had some problems with work habits,” Birdsong said. “I think they took it easy on him at Syracuse. In the pros, you have to work on your game. You can’t take it easy.”

None of this year’s early entrants has endured more difficulty than Washburn. In training camp, the Warriors marveled at the 21-year-old prodigy. But once the season began, Washburn began acting erratically. He missed or was late for numerous practices. On the court, he seemed detached.

In Feburary, Washburn entered a drug treatment clinic in Van Nuys. His problems are a case study in what happens to a player who attempts to reach the big time too fast.

Washburn has pointed to the endless succession of hotel rooms and the groupies wanting to be seen with a professional athlete.

“There were a lot of lonely nights at the (Oakland) Hilton (where Washburn lived early in the season),” he said. “I just wanted to get out and drive around and meet some people.”