Since making his preseason debut, Sacramento Kings' rookie Nique Clifford has been applauded for his maturity on the court. There's a reason for that, specifically spending a full four years playing in college. That's something more potential NBA rookies could benefit from before entering the league.
It's become increasingly common for college basketball players to declare for the NBA Draft after their first or second year. In a few select and rare cases, some players get drafted right out of high school. But that list includes names like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett.
Most rookies end up entering the NBA through the college system.