Age Limit for the NBA: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

**Carlos** · 05-15-2005, 05:32 PM

There is debate about whether or not the NBA should impose an age limit in order to go into the league. NBA Commisioner David Stern and other veteran players want the age limit to be raised from 18 to 20. Some reasons is to force high school players to go to college, make a high school player decide if he wants to play basketball in college, and make the players develop. There are others, such as Indiana Pacers player Jermaine O'Neal who want the age limit to stay the same and claim that racism is part of the deal for the age limit to be raised. In your opinion, do you think the age limit should be raised to 20, stay the same(18), or even be higher?

In my opinion, I think the age limit should be raised to 20. High school basketball players should go to college to develop their skills and learn to play team ball with other players. Also, while in college, a player can decide whether or not to go pro or go on to a different career. While players such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Amare Stoudemire show that some players are ready for the NBA, players such as Kwame Brown, Darko Mililic, and DeShawn Stevenson are ones that needed the college experience.

**Space Cadet** · 05-15-2005, 05:44 PM

I agree with the age limit. Here in Washington, Kwame Brown had four years to develop into the player that he was drafted number one for, but in never came. There were flashes, but they were just that, flashes. He was suspended for the playoffs and it's clear that he won't be returning. Maybe in another town he'll develop into the player he's susposed to be. I think if he went to college, he would have been better.

**TimTwoFace** · 05-15-2005, 05:45 PM

I don't really care which way they go - but it'd be good for any kids to go to college and hit the books if they have the chance to. If that can go hand-in-hand with a basketball scholarship, then it's all the better.

-Tim

**Condiment King** · 05-15-2005, 05:53 PM

The fact that we are hearing about middle school phenoms is a joke.

**Natey** · 05-15-2005, 06:07 PM

eh well i think its fine right now! not every one is a lebron or carmelo but it just might make things worse for the kid that wants to be in the NBA

**Memphis Bleek** · 05-15-2005, 06:23 PM

No, the age limit should stay at 18. If a person can vote and join the military, a person has the right to play in a professional sports league. Age discrimination is a more accurate term to describe this situation.

Life is hard, and everyone isn't succesful. Young players are a symptom, but overexpansion is the illness. Fewer teams would eliminate average players. This factor would diminish the chances of high school players getting drafted. Vancouver (Memphis), Toronto, Atlanta, and Charlotte should not have franchises. These new franchises are nothing more than cash grabs for league owners. I don't care if mediocre veterans are replaced by younger players. Good players have nothing to worry about. The cream always rises to the top.

This issue isn't cut and dry because a majority of these men are trying to support their families.

**AF$** · 05-15-2005, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by Memphis Bleek

No, the age limit should stay at 18. If a person can vote and join the military, a person has the right to play in a professional sports league. Age discrimination is a more accurate term to describe this situation.

While they would be discriminating by age, it's the NBA's choice. They are a private league with privately owned franchises. If as a league, they decide they want to raise the age limit, there really isn't anything kids can do about it. It's like male or female only golf courses, they are private clubs whose member admittance rules are their own.

I belive that an age limit should be imposed. The draft is designed for good teams to get immediate help. Too many teams are drafting extreme project players, who often aren't panning out.

**JShaggy** · 05-15-2005, 07:41 PM

The age limit should be a minimum of 20 years of age. Most of these NBA players, with the exception of Lebron James and Kevin Garnett just to name a few, had college basketball experience before going professional. Just letting players come into the NBA right after high school is absurd.

**okendri** · 05-15-2005, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by AF$

While they would be discriminating by age, it's the NBA's choice. They are a private league with privately owned franchises. If as a league, they decide they want to raise the age limit, there really isn't anything kids can do about it. It's like male or female only golf courses, they are private clubs whose member admittance rules are their own.

I belive that an age limit should be imposed. The draft is designed for good teams to get immediate help. Too many teams are drafting extreme project players, who often aren't panning out.

The league can't just impose an age restriction. They must reach an agreement with the players' union before it could be enacted. So far Billy Hunter has said that he is totally against such an idea, but some players have said they support the age restriction. I'm for the age restriction because it allows those under 20 to better develop their games under pressure situation that wouldn't happen in practice. Also it allows them to interact with people their own age and learn to manage time and money. Also an age restiction is not against the law as proven by the rulings on the Maurice Clarett case.

**Red** · 05-15-2005, 08:14 PM

If you can play the game good, you should be able to play the game, so I say 18 is fine.

**Tienshin** · 05-15-2005, 08:23 PM

I dont think the issue is at a point that justifies imposing a new age limit. It's not as though the NBA is overflowing with 18 year olds. I think the NBA is trying to be proactive and "fix" the games image but going about it the wrong way. 18 year year olds playing isn't the problem in my eyes. It's the style of play that turns me off.

**Space Cadet** · 05-15-2005, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Tienshin

I dont think the issue is at a point that justifies imposing a new age limit. It's not as though the NBA is overflowing with 18 year olds. I think the NBA is trying to be proactive and "fix" the games image but going about it the wrong way. 18 year year olds playing isn't the problem in my eyes. It's the style of play that turns me off.

What part of the play turns you off?

**Condiment King** · 05-15-2005, 08:28 PM

How is high school basketball a preparation for the intensity of NBA basketball? Go from being star center of the Polka Dots to a member of the Indiana Pacers. That's a pretty big leap.

Not to mention that kids should keep their options a little more open than that.

**Tienshin** · 05-15-2005, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Marzak Ahmed

What part of the play turns you off?

The mind boggling slow pace too many games take, the isolation play as a primary offensive strategy for too many teams, superstars who have to shoot 25 to 30 times a game to score 28 points.

Give me a league full of San Antonio Spurs like teams and I'd be happy.

**Space Cadet** · 05-15-2005, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Tienshin

The mind boggling slow pace too many games take, the isolation play as a primary offensive strategy for too many teams, superstars who have to shoot 25 to 30 times a game to score 28 points.

Give me a league full of San Antonio Spurs like teams and I'd be happy.

Well, the Phoenix Suns play fast-paced basketball and scoring 116 points per game in the playoffs.

**Tienshin** · 05-15-2005, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Marzak Ahmed

Well, the Phoenix Suns play fast-paced basketball and scoring 116 points per game in the playoffs.

I know. But I live on the east coast and never really get to see them play.

**Space Cadet** · 05-15-2005, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Tienshin

I know. But I live on the east coast and never really get to see them play.

Yeah, same here. At least tonights game is on at 9:30 p.m. and not 10:30 p.m.

**ManicWebb** · 05-15-2005, 09:17 PM

I think it's better that the NBA drafts players out of colleges rather than high schools, but that doesn't mean I'm against keeping the age limit at 18. If you have the talent and skill to go pro, then you have the talent and skill to go pro. If you need to play college ball to hone those skills (and I think a lot of people do), then so be it.

However, let's not just assume that going to college automatically means having an education to fall back on. A lot of hopefuls wanting to go pro (in any sport) only go to college for the name recognition and experience, and the education they have to "fall back on" will turn out to be a degree in English or Philosophy... which are only good if you want to someday teach English or Philosophy. Given a choice between going pro straight out of high school or wasting precious scholarship money on a degree they won't need at all, I say let the 18 year olds try out for the NBA.

However, if they want to go to college for the experience, name recognition, and a Plan-B degree, then all the power to them, and that's not even an issue.

**dark knight acolyte** · 05-15-2005, 10:04 PM

In life, we all make decisions. Some of us choose to go to college, some don't. Some choose to continue with their education once they've enrolled, some don't. Some of us have talents that we can utilize at a young age; my friend is a graphic designer for a reputable printery and makes $64K annually. He's 19. Some athletes mature in skill and stature at an earlier age than others and are able to utilize their talents at a high level. If they can, they do it at their own risk- however, as an adult, I believe an athlete has the right to decide whether to go to college or right to the NBA. And, if a professional team is willing to sign him, then who are we to argue with their dual decisions, especially if it turns out mutually beneficial? Great players have been very successful in the NBA right out of high school, such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Some would argue that an 18 year old is too young to make such an impactful decision, but in truth, we ask 18-year old adults to be responsible in many aspects of life, and as a legal adult, an 18 year old should be able to decide what path they choose to utilize their talents with. It's not like the drinking age of 21, where a potentially fatal/inhibiting drug is kept out of the hands of a very YOUNG and NEW adult. It's basketball, its a talent, its a career- and like any other working adult over 18, I believe its in the players' hands to decide what direction to take with their talents. My friend didn't receive a formal education and utilizes his talents successfully. Whether college would have enhanced his skills is debatable and even probable, but if you were to ask him, he'd tell you that he would have missed on a great opportunity and that his talents will mature with time in either case. Basketball players who feel the same should have the privilege to take that risk, in spite of any consequences that come with it.

**Ajax** · 05-15-2005, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Red Giant

If you can play the game good, you should be able to play the game, so I say 18 is fine.

The question isn't wether high school kids can play the game well. I mean if they didn't, then they wouldn't make the jump, or get drafted. Its more are they mentaly ready and do they have that kind of maturity? Look at the Draft Class of 2001 for examples. As the level of competion grows in basketball so does the speed of the game. How can a kid go from playing with teenagers to competeing with grown men? I can name only two players who have ever made that transition. Lebron James and Moses Malone. Yes that's right. Past high school players who are now stars could of benefited from at least one year of college. Take Kevin Garnett. KG's biggest flaw in his game is that he couldn't post up, something he could of learned in college. And Kobe. He didn't average twenty points until his fourth season, hell he didn't do squat his first season.
My point is every high school player can benefit from college. There really has only been one exception to this rule in this past decade.

Originally Posted by imisshostinCCF

not every one is a lebron or carmelo but it just might make things worse for the kid that wants to be in the NBA

Actually Carmelo went to college.

Originally Posted by Tienshin

18 year year olds playing isn't the problem in my eyes. It's the style of play that turns me off.

Actually it is a problem. Crappy NBA teams like the Hawks, Bobcats, and Hornets can't get help through the draft because GM's are forced to draft these high school kids. And if they don't and the high schooler ends up to be the next Lebron, the franchise will look stupid for years to come.
If its money they want send these kids to the NBDL. It will at least give them a steady cash flow and it will sharpen their skills at the same time.Then after two years they can go to the NBA. Hey its better than rotting away on the bench. Then of course, there is always taking the full scholarship and going to school.

Originally Posted by Tienshin

Give me a league full of San Antonio Spurs like teams and I'd be happy.

NO! Bad Tien, bad. Give me a league full of Suns, then everyone will be happy.