Myles Brand on Early Entrants to the NBA
July 9th, 2009 - byMyles Brand put together an excellent blog post on the NCAA Double A Zone blog describing his feeling about the NBA’s current age limit rule. He goes to great length to point that it is the NBA’s rule not the NCAA’s, but he adds that he wouldn’t mind players staying two years instead of one.
What I would like even more is an NBA rule (Did I mention that only the NBA and its players association, not the NCAA, can amend the rule?) that requires two years out of high school before entering the draft. In my mind, it would improve the situation for the college game and enhance the business benefits for the NBA.
The marketability of the stars would be increased in that they would be better known before beginning their professional careers. They would also be further along in their physical and skill development. Good things for the NBA.
From the college perspective, there are clear advantages. Even if players leave after a year and a half, it is likely they would have attended two summer sessions (one before the start of their freshman year to address any deficiencies and one between their freshman and sophomore years). That’s five semesters and a lot further down the road than the one-and-done allows.
It would also mean that high school basketball athletes would come to college much better prepared, and those who just don’t want the college experience may more seriously consider other opportunities.
To be sure, a two-year rule will not resolve all the problems, even though it is an improvement. The recruiting environment will not change simply by moving to a 20-year-old age rule. To fix that, and related issues, the NCAA will need to strongly enhance its enforcement.
Third parties will still hang around programs, perhaps for longer periods of time. The trouble that such parties can get young athletes – and colleges and universities – into is not to be taken lightly. Enforcement, including at state and federal levels, is still the answer.
What do you think of Mr. Brand’s proposal. Should the NBA extend its rule to another year out of high school? Is the current rule fair? Mr. Brand calls for stricter enforcement, but why hasn’t he done so already (he is the president of the NCAA)? Weigh in with your vote and Comment away!
