NBA: Grantland Age Minimum Article

[MNCyGuy]

Interesting take from Steve Kerr proposing an age limit of 20 for NBA rookies. I don't know if I agree with everything, but I think there are some interesting points there.

Steve Kerr on the problems with the age limit in the NBA - Grantland

I think any interesting solution would be to allow NBA teams to draft high school players again, but they must be assigned to a D-league team until they are 20, at which point they can be called up. Players under the 20 year minimum would get a reduced salary while in the D-league, but their time there would count toward the 4-years of their rookie contract. I have to think that would be a compromise that agents/players union might be able to get behind, especially since it would probably mean more guys under NBA contract.

 

[CycloneRobert]

You cant argue with his logic. Im sure all these athletes that think they're "one and done" players would be upset and claim it's unfair when they could be making money after their first year of college. But in my opinion adjusting the minimum age to 20 would have more pros than cons for the NBA.

I like the point he makes about Lebron, makes you think about how much better he could have been if he had developed 2 more years. The downfalls in his game that he deals with still today could have been eliminated and the arguement of who is the best ever would surely be leaning more towards him.

 

[MNCyGuy]

You cant argue with his logic. Im sure all these athletes that think they're "one and done" players would be upset and claim it's unfair when they could be making money after their first year of college. But in my opinion adjusting the minimum age to 20 would have more pros than cons for the NBA.

I like the point he makes about Lebron, makes you think about how much better he could have been if he had developed 2 more years. The downfalls in his game that he deals with still today could have been eliminated and the arguement of who is the best ever would surely be leaning more towards him.

I love that "it's not fair to deny us these contracts" argument. Did I miss the part where businesses are able to hire whoever the hell they want?

If the NBA ever does get serious about this though, they do need to make improvements to the D-League. Tell a Pelle-type that he can declare for the draft at 18 if he can't qualify for college, but the team that takes him has to keep him in the NBDL until he's reached the age requirement.

 

[CycloneRobert]

I love that "it's not fair to deny us these contracts" argument. Did I miss the part where businesses are able to hire whoever the hell they want?

If the NBA ever does get serious about this though, they do need to make improvements to the D-League. Tell a Pelle-type that he can declare for the draft at 18 if he can't qualify for college, but the team that takes him has to keep him in the NBDL until he's reached the age requirement.

haha no doubt. That is an excellent way to go about it.

 

[VeloClone]

I love that "it's not fair to deny us these contracts" argument. Did I miss the part where businesses are able to hire whoever the hell they want?

If the NBA ever does get serious about this though, they do need to make improvements to the D-League. Tell a Pelle-type that he can declare for the draft at 18 if he can't qualify for college, but the team that takes him has to keep him in the NBDL until he's reached the age requirement.

Even for players who can qualify...everybody knows that blue chip players can make a lot more money playing NCAA ball then they will ever make in the D League.


:v_SPIN:

 

[HFCS]

People are getting all worked about about Kentucky becoming one and done U...so maybe the jury is still out on the one and done policy for NCAA hoops.

Outide of ISU I only watch NBA basketball. The one and done rule has DRAMATICALLY improved NBA basketball and made building a franchise easier. I would guess that the top ten picks in the draft are changed by as much as 50% because of the one year requirement rule change and it is almost all a change for the better from the standpoint of building an NBA franchise with young talent.

I think two years could help the NBA a little more, but not much compared to one. You get that one year to evaluate a player on a bigger stage, it's huge. The NBA doesn't really need two. The college game might benefit from two though.

 

[CyJack13]

People are getting all worked about about Kentucky becoming one and done U...so maybe the jury is still out on the one and done policy for NCAA hoops.

Outide of ISU I only watch NBA basketball. The one and done rule has DRAMATICALLY improved NBA basketball and made building a franchise easier. I would guess that the top ten picks in the draft are changed by as much as 50% because of the one year requirement rule change and it is almost all a change for the better from the standpoint of building an NBA franchise with young talent.

I think two years could help the NBA a little more, but not much compared to one. You get that one year to evaluate a player on a bigger stage, it's huge. The NBA doesn't really need two. The college game might benefit from two though.

I think two years really helps everyone, it obviously improves the college game by keeping elite talent in college longer. And it's an additional year of free marketing of the players for the NBA.

 

[Clark]

I think two years really helps everyone, it obviously improves the college game by keeping elite talent in college longer. And it's an additional year of free marketing of the players for the NBA.

And here's why it's important for the NBA to raise the age requirement. If it weren't for college football, which has by far America's most passionate fanbase and in total the largest fanbase, the NFL wouldn't be close to what it is right now.

 

[HFCS]

I think two years really helps everyone, it obviously improves the college game by keeping elite talent in college longer. And it's an additional year of free marketing of the players for the NBA.

As a mostly NBA fan, I will admit that outside of LeBron, I lost a ton of interest in watching random rookies during the years where they started taking tons of highschool kids based on pure talent ceiling. It was worse than 50/50 they'd be a huge bust, when you watch a guy like Blake Griffin even for a couple years in the Big 12 you know he's not a bust so it's makes me interested to watch him match up with pros the next season as a rookie.

An epic college talent like David Robinson came in with sooooo much hype as a rookie, I think it's building back to that little by little now with the one year rule. Rose's year at Memphis certainly made him a bigger quantity than he'd have been as a highschool pick and I think Davis's year at Kentucky will as well.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Even for players who can qualify...everybody knows that blue chip players can make a lot more money playing NCAA ball then they will ever make in the D League.

That's why I would make D-league years for players drafted below the age minimum count against their rookie contract years. It eliminates the idea the age minimum is delaying a blue-chippers ability to sign a max contract, thus taking away agents/unions biggest argument against an age minimum.

 

[jbhtexas]

There is social pressure from certain sectors to permit the high school kids and/or the one-and-dones to enter the NBA. If I were to make an assessment from articles I've read and interviews I've heard, the coaches don't really want the young, immature kids in the league, NBA management doesn't want them in the league, and most of the players don't want them in the league either. Very little is said publically, except by a few ex-players like Barkely and Kerr who speak out in support of age limits. Thus, the social pressure and fear of backlash/negative publicity must be sufficiently strong to prevent a more strict age limit from being adapted by the NBA.

Ultimately, I think a solution like MLB has could work for the NBA. It would pacify the "right to earn income" crowd while protecting the quality of the college game.

 

[CyJack13]

There is social pressure from certain sectors to permit the high school kids and/or the one-and-dones to enter the NBA. If I were to make an assessment from articles I've read and interviews I've heard, the coaches don't really want the young, immature kids in the league, NBA management doesn't want them in the league, and most of the players don't want them in the league either. Very little is said publically, except by a few ex-players like Barkely and Kerr who speak out in support of age limits. Thus, the social pressure and fear of backlash/negative publicity must be sufficiently strong to prevent a more strict age limit from being adapted by the NBA.

Ultimately, I think a solution like MLB has could work for the NBA. It would pacify the "right to earn income" crowd while protecting the quality of the college game.

The NBA will never go back to letting high schools kids directly into the league. They aleady have the one year rule in and it's been invaluable for them. Since it came into effect, guys like Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, John Wall and now Anthony Davis have all been stars before they came into the league. The NBA owners are not about to let high school kids who nobody besides hard core hoops fans have heard of into the league.

 

[jbhtexas]

The NBA will never go back to letting high schools kids directly into the league. They aleady have the one year rule in and it's been invaluable for them. Since it came into effect, guys like Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, John Wall and now Anthony Davis have all been stars before they came into the league. The NBA owners are not about to let high school kids who nobody besides hard core hoops fans have heard of into the league.

The NBA on its own might not let high school kids back in, but they could always be sued and forced into some kind of deal. Given that a number of kids coming directly from high-school have been successful in the NBA, it could be tricky to defend that policy in court.

 

[gocubs2118]

The NBA on its own might not let high school kids back in, but they could always be sued and forced into some kind of deal. Given that a number of kids coming directly from high-school have been successful in the NBA, it could be tricky to defend that policy in court.

When you compare the number who have succeeded when coming out of high school to the number who have failed, it's not really even close.

 

[Clark]

When you compare the number who have succeeded when coming out of high school to the number who have failed, it's not really even close.

agreed. The NFL just went through this with Clarett. Because it's collectively bargained, it's near impossible to win a lawsuit.

 

[jbhtexas]

When you compare the number who have succeeded when coming out of high school to the number who have failed, it's not really even close.

By my count, over 1/2 of the people on the list below have had succesful NBA careers, so your statement is not correct.

ListAfterList.com - NBA Basketball Players Straight From High School

 

[HOTDON]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the boost it would provide to the NBADL. Imagine the hype of having Anthony Davis on the Iowa Energy roster for two years. You also have the opportunity to expand your fan base in the NBA. Two big years in Des Moines and Davis would certainly turn some of those local fans into fans of his NBA franchise. College basketball does not directly line the pockets of the NBA. By getting these guys into the NBADL they begin collecting on the talent immediately at bargain prices. Seems like a win-win for Stern & Co.

 

[MNCyGuy]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the boost it would provide to the NBADL. Imagine the hype of having Anthony Davis on the Iowa Energy roster for two years. You also have the opportunity to expand your fan base in the NBA. Two big years in Des Moines and Davis would certainly turn some of those local fans into fans of his NBA franchise. College basketball does not directly line the pockets of the NBA. By getting these guys into the NBADL they begin collecting on the talent immediately at bargain prices. Seems like a win-win for Stern & Co.

It would also make the NBA draft WAY more interesting. Do you take the college player who contributes immediately, or the potential superstar you have to wait two years for?

 

[CyJack13]

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the boost it would provide to the NBADL. Imagine the hype of having Anthony Davis on the Iowa Energy roster for two years. You also have the opportunity to expand your fan base in the NBA. Two big years in Des Moines and Davis would certainly turn some of those local fans into fans of his NBA franchise. College basketball does not directly line the pockets of the NBA. By getting these guys into the NBADL they begin collecting on the talent immediately at bargain prices. Seems like a win-win for Stern & Co.

Did you know who Anthony Davis was in October? Random high schoolers aren't going to increase interest in the NBDL. Anthony Davis is such a hyped NBA prospect because he was player of the year for Kentucky, playing in Des Moines, Reno, Idaho and Sioux Falls is not going to have the same result. The NBA would not benefit from this anywhere near as much as they will from Davis' one season at Kentucky.

 

[CyJack13]

By my count, over 1/2 of the people on the list below have had succesful NBA careers, so your statement is not correct.

ListAfterList.com - NBA Basketball Players Straight From High School

I don't see Lenny Cooke on that list and he's the most famous example of a high schooler who didn't pan out. So it looks like that list doesn't include the high school players who declared but never made an NBA team, which makes it a rather incomplete list of how high schoolers have fared in the NBA.