I'm not American obviously, so can someone explain why college

The NBA requires potential draftees to have completed at least one year of college. Meanwhile, the NFL requires potential draftees to have been at least three years removed from high school. Technically, players don't NEED college football to get drafted in the NFL (Moritz Börhinger got drafted despite never playing college football,) but the exposure the NCAA provides is nearly essential.

>>76558982
Its just the physical demands of the sport and market forces

personally I think its an absolute sham that college football/basketball players don't get paid vast sums of money. Their NCAA sports are making more money than the professional versions.

>>76558982
probably because foreign players can be draft by NBA if they are 19 or older
Draft system works in a vacuum for the NFL though, as only USA produces handegg players
You'll also notice that the MLS draft is a joke, US football clubs can't really force young players to vegetate 1 or worse 3 years in a college with subpar competition, when foreign clubs sign 16 years olds as pros.