There has obviously been a lot on MPJ, but here is my hot take...This will be long so deal with it.
1). MPJ owes Mizzou absolutely nothing. He shouldn’t have even been playing college ball in the first place. If MPJ were my kid I would be advising him not to play. Playing this year is high risk with little reward, either way he is a top 10 pick and will make millions.
2). MPJ and his family/advisors have not handled this situation well. Hindsight is 20/20, but MPJ should have laid off the social media when it came to his recovery. Maybe he just likes the attention, but it was stupid to post the “liar” Instagram post. I’m also assuming the the leaks to national media were coming from his camp. That makes no sense to me, unless it is absolutely certain he was coming back.
I think Counzo was playing it right, which was essentially saying nothing, until that interview after the leak to Hart/Vitale. I would be curious to know if Counzo only spoke to it because it was out there, or if he really felt confident MPJ was coming back. If the latter I think that is the only mistake Mizzou has made during this saga.
3). Even if MPJ doesn’t play another second, he left a huge mark on this program. I firmly believe that there is no way Robertson comes here with MPJ. Jontay is probably our second best player (maybe third) and he obviously isn’t here without MPJ. Tilmon might still come here without MPJ, but having the Porters here made that decision much more likely for Tilmon. So no matter what I am grateful for the impact (even if it is just this year) the Porters have had on this program. Especially considering the previous three years.
4). At this point, if I was advising MPJ, I would be strongly advising him to play this year (assuming he is truly healthy and ready to go). Now I wouldn’t have let him have the press conference where he essentially said he’s playing if he was cleared, but at this point I think he is fighting the “soft” label (which he was already fighting a little bit pre-injury).
5). This last point isn’t super relevant to MPJ and his injury situation, but after the CVL injury this tram absolutely needs MPJ. I know CVL has drawn some (justified) and unjustified criticism from Mizzou fans, but he carved himself out a role that this team was depending on him for. Brett Rau can’t fill that role going by forward against the competition Mizzou will face. IMO MPJ not playing after all the social media/drama and his team truely needing him it is bad look for NBA scouts.
TLDR;
MPJ owes us nothing, if he doesn’t play I get it, but IMO cornered himself in with social media posts, the press conference, and the leaks to national media, so playing might be in his best interest at this point (assuming health).
1). MPJ owes Mizzou absolutely nothing. He shouldn’t have even been playing college ball in the first place. If MPJ were my kid I would be advising him not to play. Playing this year is high risk with little reward, either way he is a top 10 pick and will make millions.
2). MPJ and his family/advisors have not handled this situation well. Hindsight is 20/20, but MPJ should have laid off the social media when it came to his recovery. Maybe he just likes the attention, but it was stupid to post the “liar” Instagram post. I’m also assuming the the leaks to national media were coming from his camp. That makes no sense to me, unless it is absolutely certain he was coming back.
I think Counzo was playing it right, which was essentially saying nothing, until that interview after the leak to Hart/Vitale. I would be curious to know if Counzo only spoke to it because it was out there, or if he really felt confident MPJ was coming back. If the latter I think that is the only mistake Mizzou has made during this saga.
3). Even if MPJ doesn’t play another second, he left a huge mark on this program. I firmly believe that there is no way Robertson comes here with MPJ. Jontay is probably our second best player (maybe third) and he obviously isn’t here without MPJ. Tilmon might still come here without MPJ, but having the Porters here made that decision much more likely for Tilmon. So no matter what I am grateful for the impact (even if it is just this year) the Porters have had on this program. Especially considering the previous three years.
4). At this point, if I was advising MPJ, I would be strongly advising him to play this year (assuming he is truly healthy and ready to go). Now I wouldn’t have let him have the press conference where he essentially said he’s playing if he was cleared, but at this point I think he is fighting the “soft” label (which he was already fighting a little bit pre-injury).
5). This last point isn’t super relevant to MPJ and his injury situation, but after the CVL injury this tram absolutely needs MPJ. I know CVL has drawn some (justified) and unjustified criticism from Mizzou fans, but he carved himself out a role that this team was depending on him for. Brett Rau can’t fill that role going by forward against the competition Mizzou will face. IMO MPJ not playing after all the social media/drama and his team truely needing him it is bad look for NBA scouts.
TLDR;
MPJ owes us nothing, if he doesn’t play I get it, but IMO cornered himself in with social media posts, the press conference, and the leaks to national media, so playing might be in his best interest at this point (assuming health).
