been there next year. But, if Mika thought playing another season at BYU with his back to the basket, as a student athlete, wasn't going to prepare him as well for the NBA, and he thinks a year of doing nothing but playing more as a PF in Italy will . . . then that's the road he has chosen to travel. I don't like it as a fan. Then again, it's not my life, my decision, etc.

Fortunately, I didn't have thousands of people second guessing my young career or other life decisions on social media, jumping to conclusions about how dumb I was for leaving BYU early to take the first job offer that came along, for very little money, finishing my degree via long distance, only to discover within a year that I had made a big mistake . . . . I have been able to live my life, make my mistakes, and celebrate my triumphs in virtual obscurity. I did not grow up as some kind of phenom that everyone loves or hates, where so many have an opinion about what I'm doing, saying, and even thinking. That would be a completely different challenge for me. That's what Mika's life is like. He is blessed with great talent and the opportunity to make an awesome living doing what he loves. His education can be put on hold to play basketball just as it was to serve an LDS mission. In the process, he can build up a war chest of money that would take the rest of us decades to acquire.

I don't know Mika. If he were my son, I would want him to make the best life choices that will lead him to become the best husband and father he can. Playing basketball is merely a means to that righteous end. I'm not sure I would even want him playing in the NBA, to be part of that crazy lifestyle, with all the temptation that goes along with it. I would want my son to put himself in a position where he can be most successful, happy and be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Who would have thought that China would be the place where Jimmer bloomed as a professional? Not me. Sometimes, we just have to let people make their decisions, live their lives, and follow their own path as they feel is best, wishing them well. While I have joined the many Cougar fans wishing Mika would be back for this next season - feeling unfulfilled with all the Lone Peak Three hype - I am nevertheless happy that Mika, as a young man, has served a mission, married in the temple, and is living his dream not only for himself, but for his wife - both having served in Italy. That's pretty dang awesome. Who am I to second guess that life choice?

While I think the BYU basketball team would benefit from having Mika for another season, I'm not sure how much better the team would be with him - nor am I'm not so sure Mika would be better off with another year at BYU. So, I'll have to leave that decision to Mika and his spouse, wish them the very best, and remember what he did for us to beat Gonzaga again at home in 2017, which was awesome.

I'm looking forward to what Mika accomplishes not only at the pro level, but more so as a family man. He has a BYU legacy that cannot be taken from him, that will be remembered. We are just collectively disappointed that he will not be adding to it as a Cougar. But, he can still add to it in the way he lives his life - and I think Mika still has a great deal to provide in that regard.