Who thinks the minimum age will change eventually?

[zerophase]

I say the 2 year minimum is the best solution. It splits the college and NBA right now the middle. It'll result in kids coming into the NBA more mature, and smarter with their decisions. Many times players are ready for the NBA out of high school physically, but very rarely are they ready mentally. Do you remember coming out of high school and how immature you felt? Imagine that coupled with millions of dollars...

[JT11]

I say the 2 year minimum is the best solution. It splits the college and NBA right now the middle. It'll result in kids coming into the NBA more mature, and smarter with their decisions. Many times players are ready for the NBA out of high school physically, but very rarely are they ready mentally. Do you remember coming out of high school and how immature you felt? Imagine that coupled with millions of dollars...

As a high school senior, I can honestly say that the prospect of certain guys in my grade graduating only to receive millions of dollars, fame, and insane pressure (both mental and physical) is pretty terrifying.

[GranTur]

College barely adds maturity. Remember back to your college days...

These guys are athletic studs that everyone knows...take a look at your average NBA player...does that look like someone who will mature from the college experience?

I would argue players are more mature if they come straight out of high school into the NBA.

The place they mature is on the basketball court. Off the court, college does nothing to help these kids, and forcing them to stay in college does nothing to better them.

It's about money lol

[zerophase]

College barely adds maturity. Remember back to your college days...

These guys are athletic studs that everyone knows...take a look at your average NBA player...does that look like someone who will mature from the college experience?

I would argue players are more mature if they come straight out of high school into the NBA.

The place they mature is on the basketball court. Off the court, college does nothing to help these kids, and forcing them to stay in college does nothing to better them.

It's about money lol

I would have to disagree with your point that college does not make kids mature. It is ultimately about the money but moving away from home and having to be self sufficient absolutely helps one mature. In either case, I don't see how coming from straight high school could ever result in MORE maturity than an older college kid. They'll probably party and drink but they'll also learn responsibility while they're not as well when they have to feed themselves, do their own laundry, buy their own groceries, etc... The NCAA is very strict about their athletes.

[Chris]

It's about money lol

Of course it is, and it should be.  Forcing players to mature an extra year (physically, and skill-wise) before signing them to multi-million dollar guaranteed contracts is good business.

It gives them extra time at higher levels to scout these players and make a more informed decision whether they will be a bust or not, and it lets these kids develop a bit more on someone else's dime, rather than having them making millions of dollars and taking up valuable roster spots just so they can sit at the end of the bench and practice with the NBA team (or play in the NBDL).

[Moranis]

College barely adds maturity. Remember back to your college days...

These guys are athletic studs that everyone knows...take a look at your average NBA player...does that look like someone who will mature from the college experience?

I would argue players are more mature if they come straight out of high school into the NBA.

The place they mature is on the basketball court. Off the court, college does nothing to help these kids, and forcing them to stay in college does nothing to better them.

It's about money lol

I would have to disagree with your point that college does not make kids mature. It is ultimately about the money but moving away from home and having to be self sufficient absolutely helps one mature. In either case, I don't see how coming from straight high school could ever result in MORE maturity than an older college kid. They'll probably party and drink but they'll also learn responsibility while they're not as well when they have to feed themselves, do their own laundry, buy their own groceries, etc... The NCAA is very strict about their athletes.

the ten or so people you are talking about each year, would mature much more in the NBA then they would in college. These kids are treated like Gods in college, they aren't in the NBA.

The age limit should be illegal as it discriminates based upon age.  The US Supreme Court just hasn't had the balls to take on that issue. 

[Chris]

The age limit should be illegal as it discriminates based upon age.  The US Supreme Court just hasn't had the balls to take on that issue.  

There is no law about discriminating about people being too young.  The only people who are protected by law are people who are too old.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm

[Finkelskyhook]

Kareem was on Mike & Mike talking about the one-and-done.  I should have known that one and done meant one semester and done.  Kareem used the word "ridiculous" what must've been a dozen times during his interview.

But ridiculous is an apt description for the sham that is one-and-done.

Kareem proposed a minimum age of 21.

I would propose either one full year of college athetically & academically or  a minimum of one full season in the NBDL as a requirement to entering the NBA.  Seeing the sleaze that could circumvent the NBDL requirement..(fake injuries etc)..I would require that said drafted player must play a full season worth of NBDL games before being eligible for the NBA if they are below the minimum age.  Regardless of whether they attain the minimum age before the requirement is met.  

[MBz]

I like two years as the minimum.  It's good for the NBA and the NCAA.  It keeps players in school which keeps kids who are too young and not ready to play in the NBA there.  It allows vets to take those spots at the end of the bench who can contribute a little instead of young guys with a zero chance of contributing. I'd like to see some sort of study that shows the percentage of all hs kids who have entered the draft and ended up being all-stars or even just starters in this league.  We'll always be able to use LBJ, Howard, T-Mac, etc, but then you have Lenny Cooke, Ndudi Ebi, Gerald Green.  Even a guy like CJ Miles.  He was a big time HS prospect, entered the draft, went in the second round and he's becoming a rotation player, but it looks like he won't be anymore than that.

[Moranis]

The age limit should be illegal as it discriminates based upon age.  The US Supreme Court just hasn't had the balls to take on that issue.  

There is no law about discriminating about people being too young.  The only people who are protected by law are people who are too old.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm

plenty of states have those laws. 

The ruling in the Clarrett case was the correct decision.  The Appellate Court just didn't have the guts to stick with it.

[JSD]

     The quality of play in college is so much worse than years ago. It seems like if they added another year or even two to get into the pros it would benefit both leagues.I was curious what people thought the future will hold.   

Forget that... The age limit should just be removed altogether, it hasn't worked. Players are going overseas or going to college and embarrassing academics. Raising the age limit makes the problem even worse, as if "student athlete" isn't enough of a joke.

If at 16 your good enough to be on an NBA roster, you should be able to be on an NBA roster in my opinion.

[Celtics18]

I say expand the D league to a full 30 teams and make 18 year olds eligible for the NBA draft.  If they are not ready for the NBA right away, stash them on the D-league roster for a year or two.

[Finkelskyhook]

I think the next CBA will solve this problem by default.  If the owners get close to a hard cap in the area they're talking about there won't be room to gamble in the fashion they have been.  

I say expand the D league to a full 30 teams and make 18 year olds eligible for the NBA draft.  If they are not ready for the NBA right away, stash them on the D-league roster for a year or two.

In principle, this is a great idea.  Attendance is pretty good in Iowa.  But when I watch NBDL games on television the venues look empty.  I would wonder how many of these franchises are profitable.  Even with their limited rosters and coaches.

[Chris]

 

I say expand the D league to a full 30 teams and make 18 year olds eligible for the NBA draft.  If they are not ready for the NBA right away, stash them on the D-league roster for a year or two.

In principle, this is a great idea.  Attendance is pretty good in Iowa.  But when I watch NBDL games on television the venues look empty.  I would wonder how many of these franchises are profitable.  Even with their limited rosters and coaches.

It would be interesting to see if attendance would improve if it were more of a true minor league system.

I think a big reason minor league baseball does well in general is that there is more of an attachment with the major league clubs, and just about every pro player plays for those teams at some point. 

The problem of course is that contracts would have to be completely changed for these kids coming in.  It works in baseball because most of the players do not get a ton of money until they make it to the big leagues.  But in the NBA, they get paid right away, and that just won't work financially.

[Celtics18]

 

I say expand the D league to a full 30 teams and make 18 year olds eligible for the NBA draft.  If they are not ready for the NBA right away, stash them on the D-league roster for a year or two.

In principle, this is a great idea.  Attendance is pretty good in Iowa.  But when I watch NBDL games on television the venues look empty.  I would wonder how many of these franchises are profitable.  Even with their limited rosters and coaches.

It would be interesting to see if attendance would improve if it were more of a true minor league system.

I think a big reason minor league baseball does well in general is that there is more of an attachment with the major league clubs, and just about every pro player plays for those teams at some point. 

The problem of course is that contracts would have to be completely changed for these kids coming in.  It works in baseball because most of the players do not get a ton of money until they make it to the big leagues.  But in the NBA, they get paid right away, and that just won't work financially.

Sure you'd have to change the salary structure, but I think it could be done.  I like your point that a fully developed minor league could draw more interest in the league like in baseball.