SMU Mustangs’ Larry Brown disagrees with Mark Cuban

Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban recently told reporters he believed elite high school prospects would be better off playing in the NBA’s Developmental League than they would attending a major college basketball power.

Long time NBA and current SMU Mustangs’ head coach Larry Brown disagreed with Cuban.

“I admire him and I think he’s one of the bright guys we have in our profession, but that was the worst thing I heard,” Brown said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas via Tim McMahon of ESPN Dallas.

Brown thinks player learn the game better in college.

“They don’t teach guys how to play, in my mind,” Brown said of the D-League. “The head coaches in the NBA and a lot of the assistants do, but [college basketball] is the greatest minor league system in the world. If you didn’t go to one class and just live in a college environment, then you’re way ahead. And I think most coaches are responsible enough to make them go to class, make them go to study hall, give them life lessons.”

He then tried to sell prospects on his school.

“How about being around [SMU assistants] Eric Snow and George Lynch? Those two guys played 13, 14 years in the league, have families, are successful. In all honesty, I love Mark, but [college basketball] is pretty good.”