Why the NBA Age Requirement Stinks

Last night the Kentucky Wildcats won the National Championship with a team that featured 3 Freshmen. All three are likely to go to the NBA and make millions of dollars. Many say that their one year stay in college will help them transition to the next level, and they may be right, but I still think the NBA age requirement sucks and prevents players from reaching their dreams and potential economic gains. In 2005 the NBA enacted a age requirement for draft eligibility that mandated 19 years of age and a one year gap from the end of high school. Prior the 2005 players were free to jump straight from high school to the NBA and many made the jump. Some more successfully than others, much to the dismay of the NCAA. In an effort to give young players more experience and prevent them from invading the the more talent rich NBA, the NBA enacted an age requirement, but I believe it has hurt the NCAA and the college athletes forced to wait a year.

For starters, many of the players who earn scholarships to play college basketball come from financial hardship. Many players go off to college hoping to one day play in the NBA and provide a better life for their family, but that one year in college has the possibility to hurt their future economic opportunities. Injuries are part of sports, and the more games you play the more likely you are to injure yourself. At the amateur level, where players are receiving no pay, the consequence of an injury is even greater. Say a potential lottery pick tears his ACL and loses some of his vertical leap and lateral quickness. Instead of being a #1 pick straight out of high school, he may drop to the middle of the 1st round which in the long run could cost him millions of dollars. If any player feels that his talents are sufficient enough for him the make the jump to the NBA, then he should have no barriers preventing him from making that life decision. It is the responsibility of the player to surround himself with the best advice possible and make a decision that is best for him and his family. The NBA's age requirement prevents him from doing that, and I see that as a problem.

Second, having players stay in college for a minimum of 1 year is of no service to the institution which they attend. Universities spend a lot of time and money to ensure that student athletes have the best services to help them succeed academically, but all of it is for not if a player leaves for the NBA. If I am not mistaken, the NCAA only checks academic eligibility at the beginning of terms. As a result, a player destined for the NBA only has to give effort during his fall semester. Once winter semester rolls around, a player can slack off knowing that his eligibility is safe and that his draft status will be safe as well. This is a disservice not only to the player "receiving" an education, but to his fellow students and to the institution. If someone is not serious about their studies, they should not be forced to attend college when those resources being used on him could be used on someone more deserving and someone who will make the most of the opportunity. Now, some may say that the NBA age requirement doesn't require high schoolers to attend college, just take a year off, and these people are correct. However, practically speaking, how many 18 year olds do you know willing to leave everything behind to play overseas or in the NBA Development League for a year. College is a fun and much simpler route to take, and that is important to keep in mind.

Now, you may be wondering why I decide to talk about the NBA age requirement, and there is a simple reason why. Today on espn.com I came across an article saying that NBA Commissioner David J. Stern would like the age requirement upped to 2 years. As I have shown, I am not a fan of the 1 year requirement so I would obviously not like to see a 2 year requirement. In the article Commissioner Stern talks about the NFL's 3 year age requirement and how it works for them. What he fails to realize, however, is that the nature of the sport of football is completely different than basketball. Football requires a level of physical strength that only time, preparation, and competition can build. Basketball, on the other hand, doesn't require such physicality, thus the jump from high school to the professionals is much easier. So, hopefully, I have given a compelling case as to why the NBA age requirement is a bad rule, and maybe if he's listening, Commissioner Stern may change his mind too.