John Lucaswas the No. 1 pick of the 1976 NBA draft, had a 14-year pro career and coached in the NBA. North Carolina State's Mr. Thompson is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

WSJ: The 40-Year Secret Behind Basketball's 'Hershberger' Award

Next year's team will almost certainly be missing point guard Michael Carter-Williams, a sophomore with first-round NBA potential, and another pro prospect, senior James Southerland.

WSJ: Boeheim plans on being back at Syracuse

College players with the most-NBA ready talent usually turn pro after one or two years of college, while seniors have more refined games (Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough come to mind).

WSJ: NBA Teams Should Avoid Juniors��Indiana's Victor Oladipo, Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr., Louisville's Gorgui Dieng, Michigan State's Adreian Payne

When it comes to pro sports, the NBA Playoffs are currently dominating the headlines as stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry entertain fans around the globe.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Under Stern's leadership, which began when he was named commissioner in 1984, NBA has been in the forefront of the discussion on gay rights in pro sports.

CNN: Here's to Collins -- and the NBA

In them, pro players take to the playground with hyperbolized action, like the NBA's Vince Carter pulling off 360-degree dunks and other fancy tricks.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The seventh-year pro can become a free agent at the end of the season, and though the new NBA collective bargaining agreement allows the Nets to offer Williams more than another suitor, nothing is assured.

WSJ: Jason Gay: If Deron Scores 57 in the Forest...

But sports fans have plenty to keep themselves busy right now with the baseball playoffs, college conference realignment and all things NFL. Football (both college and pro) has grown in stature to such a degree in the U.S. that the NBA gets scant attention in the fall anyway from most sports fans.

FORBES: NBA Cancels Games, The World Yawns