NCAA and NBA are in talks to increase the rookie age limit to 20.

[dsims2k3]

I think this will get done.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/04/18/adam-silver-commissioner-age-limit-draft-board-of-governors/7879115/

[hawgwild child]

I hope this gets done, it would benefit both College and Pros. 

[azhog10]

I see this creating an increase in prep school athletes. Players will just go to prep school for a year then come in as a 19 year old freshmen and then leave after year 1.

[Cotton]

Stupid. Benefits the NCAA mostly and the NBA a little.

Hurts the players.

[nextlevel]

I hope this gets done, it would benefit both College and Pros. 

Doing away with AAU ball would have more of an impact for the good of the game than the handful of one and done caliber players each year.

[HawgnCorona]

I think this will get done.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/04/18/adam-silver-commissioner-age-limit-draft-board-of-governors/7879115/

Good stuff Dsims2k3. I for one think it will be good for all parties. NBA, NCAA and the players. Should they embrace the idea? Not to mention the overall to the two leagues...with more skilled players to choose from.

Thanks for sharing your find...

[ErieHog]

They'll get sued, and they will lose.

I look forward to it.

[nextlevel]

They'll get sued, and they will lose.

I look forward to it.

Then why didn't the NFL's age requirement decrease after Clarrett took them to court?

[ErieHog]

Then why didn't the NFL's age requirement decrease after Clarrett took them to court?

A completely different situation, without antecedent success to cite.    The NFL has a much stronger basis of workplace exclusion, based on age.    The NBA would have already lost in the Brandon Jennings case, had the clock not narrowly run out on it;   with a full extra year, eventually a lawsuit will get full hearing.

[HiggiePiggy]

Stupid. Benefits the NCAA mostly and the NBA a little.

Hurts the players.

How does it hurt the player?   They can still go play overseas if they want to skip college.

[Fatty McGee]

Good stuff Dsims2k3. I for one think it will be good for all parties. NBA, NCAA and the players. Should they embrace the idea? Not to mention the overall to the two leagues...with more skilled players to choose from.

Thanks for sharing your find...

The players would come away with more skills if they worked on their game. 

[HawgnCorona]

The players would come away with more skills if they worked on their game. 

Agreed, without question...But that is what staying a bit longer gives them a chance too do AND committing themselves to improving their game while in college or wherever should do.

[dsims2k3]

The players would come away with more skills if they worked on their game.

That extra year of seasoning also gives organizations an extra year of evaluation.

[nextlevel]

That extra year of seasoning also gives organizations an extra year of evaluation.

Which means guys will be told if they need an additional year before coming out via the evaluation given to them pre-draft.

But its so horrible to give guys an opportunity to develop and stick to the NBA if they get a shot instead of winding up in the D-league or bouncing around over seas.

[HawgnCorona]

Which means guys will be told if they need an additional year before coming out via the evaluation given to them pre-draft.

But its so horrible to give guys an opportunity to develop and stick to the NBA if they get a shot instead of winding up in the D-league or bouncing around over seas.

I agree. But some need to realize as much you would like to your abilities my have reached its limit. No amount of development will get them there So most will need time to realize  this. It would mean time to pro in something else even another sport if you have that ability.

[HawgnCorona]

So it should have some traction to get it done. Seeing all parties have different reason for wanting the rule the rule  chance, yet none are mutually exclusive or contentious to the others...

Heck I say write up up have the attorneys give their blessings--cant believe I said that--vote on get it done.

Oh yeah, and compensating the college athlete needs to happen too, if you are going use them to market them. It does get rough at times in the dorm with no food or expense. No apologies here but $4-5000 from the Pell Grants a year in this society just dont cut it. Speaking from experience here, it sucks quite frankly..

[cubsfan5150]

A completely different situation, without antecedent success to cite.    The NFL has a much stronger basis of workplace exclusion, based on age.    The NBA would have already lost in the Brandon Jennings case, had the clock not narrowly run out on it;   with a full extra year, eventually a lawsuit will get full hearing.

So, with what you are saying, is an age limit viable at all, or is 18 the lowest they can go?  What if a 12 year old was considered good enough? 

[Pork Twain]

Then why didn't the NFL's age requirement decrease after Clarrett took them to court?

Because basketball players have proven that age is not a limit and their bodies to not need to develop to the same level as guys getting pounded in the NFL.  Next...

[ErieHog]

So, with what you are saying, is an age limit viable at all, or is 18 the lowest they can go?  What if a 12 year old was considered good enough? 

The only way an age limit is realistically viable, is if the lawsuit will take longer to process than it will take the prospective student athlete to become draft-eligible.   The lower that number is, the easier it is for the league to at least try to make a substantive argument about physical maturity and player safety,  but the barn  door was largely left open in the post-Garnett flood.

Right now is just about as high as they can realistically expect to maintain the envelope.

[Letsroll1200]

I hope this does not happen! If they are willing to pay let them play. I think the current rule is good. If they are going to make changes let them have the option to play in the NBA out of High school.

[cubsfan5150]

The only way an age limit is realistically viable, is if the lawsuit will take longer to process than it will take the prospective student athlete to become draft-eligible.   The lower that number is, the easier it is for the league to at least try to make a substantive argument about physical maturity and player safety,  but the barn  door was largely left open in the post-Garnett flood.

Right now is just about as high as they can realistically expect to maintain the envelope.

I honestly think that the NBA could lay out a pretty good argument that they aren't baby-sitters and a more mature 21 y/o has a better chance of succeeding than an 18 y/o on average.

[ErieHog]

I honestly think that the NBA could lay out a pretty good argument that they aren't baby-sitters and a more mature 21 y/o has a better chance of succeeding than an 18 y/o on average.

Success can't be the cornerstone of their argument; it doesn't matter if a kid succeeds or fails, if they're presenting a real obstacle to earnings, even for someone out of the League in two years, they're sunk.

[cubsfan5150]

Success can't be the cornerstone of their argument; it doesn't matter if a kid succeeds or fails, if they're presenting a real obstacle to earnings, even for someone out of the League in two years, they're sunk.

I don't know man, our very legislature has minimum ages... is that not a "real obstacle to earnings"?  I truly believe that any private enterprise should be able to set a minimum age limit, and professional sports should be 21 IMO.

[ErieHog]

I don't know man, our very legislature has minimum ages... is that not a "real obstacle to earnings"?  I truly believe that any private enterprise should be able to set a minimum age limit, and professional sports should be 21 IMO.

While there is child labor regulation, most of that goes out the window by 18;  age is a widely recognized special protected class in labor law, so sneaking any kind of restriction that has time to get before a judge by, is going to be an extremely hard sell.   

[cubsfan5150]

While there is child labor regulation, most of that goes out the window by 18;  age is a widely recognized special protected class in labor law, so sneaking any kind of restriction that has time to get before a judge by, is going to be an extremely hard sell.   

I'm referring to the minimum ages to serve in office.

[Hawg Red]

This will get done, no doubt about it. I found a better, more interesting take on it yesterday, though.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-04-17/nba-d-league-age-limit-one-and-done-ncaa-adam-silver-mark-cuban

Increasing D-League pay would make things very, very interesting. That's the main reason a good amount of the top ex-collegiate American talent goes overseas -- D-League pay is almost unlivable. Only benefit is immediate transferal to the NBA.

Overseas is not a good option for a player out of HS, really. There's a reason why no one really followed the lead of Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler. It's not the best place to develop.

[FaytownHog]

I think if a kid is good enough to play with the big boys, let em go play with the big boys! Eliminates all the wining from college kids who will never go pro about their free college degree, food, rent, gas money that they blow on tattoos and booze and cry broke. If they're good enough to go pro. Go get your money. If not, be a student athlete and enjoy the biggest stage you'll play on in front of 20k fans and on espn for a few years of your life.

[FaytownHog]

I think if a kid is good enough to play with the big boys, let em go play with the big boys! Eliminates all the wining from college kids who will never go pro about their free college degree, food, rent, gas money that they blow on tattoos and booze and cry broke. If they're good enough to go pro. Go get your money. If not, be a student athlete and enjoy the biggest stage you'll play on in front of 20k fans and on espn for a few years of your life.

Only real exception should be with the NFL and Hockey since the physicality could seriously injure a high school kid verses a grown man that his only job is to work out and practice his sport for years on end.

[elvis26]

  I think this is a good move for the nba and ncaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! education should come first anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TomasPistola]

I agree with Erie. No way that doesn't get challenged in court and tossed.

[FaytownHog]

I think this is a good move for the nba and ncaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! education should come first anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Troll alert

[FaytownHog]

Wonder what Cal's record would be the year after players could go straight to the NBA again without having to find a 1 and done school for a year that'll pay em under the table?

[FaytownHog]

Just as good but wonder what MA record would be if he hadn't given Portis 10K to come to Arkansas

LOL. What an idiot. You think Cal could win off his coaching ability with similar players as everyone else in the SEC?? LOL. Or that Portis, a life long Razorback fan would need money to come be a Hog? LOL.

Dang it. I hate feeding the trolls. They're so good on here though!

[HawgnCorona]

Only real exception should be with the NFL and Hockey since the physicality could seriously injure a high school kid verses a grown man that his only job is to work out and practice his sport for years on end.

So because the game is more physical takes more of toll on the body the rules are different?

Therefore we make exception to the rule here for the NFL and Hockey?

[nextlevel]

So because the game is more physical takes more of toll on the body the rules are different?

Therefore we make exception to the rule here for the NFL and Hockey?

The NFL hasn't exactly allowed kids to jump straight from HS, there have been players who were NFL ready out of HS, Clowney would be the most recent.

The NBA allowed players straight from HS, the result is the league decided that there are just as few ready to play the NBA game from HS as there are in football and starts to increase the age limit to that of the NFL...

MLB allows players to jump from HS to their league, again a very small percentage is ready to play in the big show, but they have a farm system in place for these guys, some eventual develop into big leaguers, others end up back in college often playing another sport. But there is a rule where if you go to college out of HS, you again must meet an age requirement to enter the draft.

I'm sure the same is true of Hockey with a small percentage ready from HS to NHL.

But lets take those small percentages, the Lebrons, the Clowneys, etc and pretend that is the norm, that sounds completely logical...

[cubsfan5150]

You could argue that there should be no rules if this NBA thing happens.

If a 6'10" hs sophomore is good enough, let him play... better yet, just draft him on potential.

How about a 17 y/o d/b... he's 6'3", 230, let the NFL draft him... this isn't happening unless they get a liberal judge that'll pass anything.

[Beaverfever]

Stupid. Benefits the NCAA mostly and the NBA a little.

Hurts the players.

The players can still be payed to play basketball.  Nobody's making them go to college.  The NBA has the right to establish their own rules that benefit their league.  The NBA is hopefully realizing that the current rule is too detrimental to college basketball and basketball in general.  What's good for basketball is good for the NBA.  I think this is their idea of a compromise and I think it's a good one. 

[Sawyer]

I see this creating an increase in prep school athletes. Players will just go to prep school for a year then come in as a 19 year old freshmen and then leave after year 1.

I have no idea if the age limit will pass, but I know that if it does, this will not happen.

Why would anyone prefer to stay an extra year in high school (and at a prep school in the middle of nowhere at that) when he could be living like a king on a college campus?

Makes no sense. Maybe the prep school would have easier classes. But it's not like there are no easy classes in college. And it's not like players are in class all day (unlike a prep school, which, if legit, will have full 8-hour days). Plus, again, college campus? Or middle of nowhere? Prep schools aren't typically filled with 18-22-year-old girls from what I understand, and they're often in out of the way places.

[Beaverfever]

A completely different situation, without antecedent success to cite.    The NFL has a much stronger basis of workplace exclusion, based on age.   

Both are based on the idea of protecting their product though.  NFL teams would occasionally draft high schoolers if it was allowed and freshmen would get drafted routinely.  Age discrimination seems to defend the old instead of the young generally.  There's tons of jobs that require you be 21.  Not to mention the dozens of penalties or restrictions that are in place well in to your 20s. 

[HawgnCorona]

The NFL hasn't exactly allowed kids to jump straight from HS, there have been players who were NFL ready out of HS, Clowney would be the most recent.

The NBA allowed players straight from HS, the result is the league decided that there are just as few ready to play the NBA game from HS as there are in football and starts to increase the age limit to that of the NFL...

MLB allows players to jump from HS to their league, again a very small percentage is ready to play in the big show, but they have a farm system in place for these guys, some eventual develop into big leaguers, others end up back in college often playing another sport. But there is a rule where if you go to college out of HS, you again must meet an age requirement to enter the draft.

I'm sure the same is true of Hockey with a small percentage ready from HS to NHL.

But lets take those small percentages, the Lebrons, the Clowneys, etc and pretend that is the norm, that sounds completely logical...

Can I you are preaching to the choir without offense to your well thought logical post?

I very aware that no high school player has go straight to the NFL...Why because the CBA requires 3 years post High school. Maurice Clarett day was the challenge to that clause. Which you know the outcome of it.

Is that just a play on wording or an actual AGE LIMIT without saying it? How clever are these lawyers? Very...

My question above was in gauging where the poster was coming. I was being a bit coy I'll admit that.

Because the NBA thinks the high school player is ready physically? Does it mean he is ready Mentally for the game, at 18? Maturity counts too...Nobody talks about that but it certainly relevant.

You are accurate on few who are ready regardless of the sports in general because only 2% make it to the pro level.

[Beaverfever]

I have no idea if the age limit will pass, but I know that if it does, this will not happen.

Why would anyone prefer to stay an extra year in high school (and at a prep school in the middle of nowhere at that) when he could be living like a king on a college campus?

Makes no sense. Maybe the prep school would have easier classes. But it's not like there are no easy classes in college. And it's not like players are in class all day (unlike a prep school, which, if legit, will have full 8-hour days). Plus, again, college campus? Or middle of nowhere? Prep schools aren't typically filled with 18-22-year-old girls from what I understand, and they're often in out of the way places.

haha yeah what I was thinking.  No big time player is going to prep school to play against scrubs.  I have no idea what the benefit of that would be.  Playing college ball for free isn't the same as getting payed 5 mil a year in the NBA but it's still a dream for 99.99 percent of aspiring basketball players. 

[Beaverfever]

Can I you are preaching to the choir without offense to your well thought logical post?

I very aware that no high school player has go straight to the NFL...Why because the CBA requires 3 years post High school. Maurice Clarett day was the challenge to that clause. Which you know the outcome of it.

Is that just a play on wording or an actual AGE LIMIT without saying it? How clever are these lawyers? Very...

My question above was in gauging where the poster was coming. I was being a bit coy I'll admit that.

Because the NBA thinks the high school player is ready physically? Does it mean he is ready Mentally for the game, at 18? Maturity counts too...Nobody talks about that but it certainly relevant.

I don't see why talking about how "ready" they are is relevant.  If it is relevant then you end up splitting hairs.  Nobody knows the NBA better than the NBA itself and they decided that 18 year olds weren't ready enough to be an asset to their business. 

[HawgnCorona]

Let me flip this around this way. How come they aren't ready to be an asset in the NBA? Please answer...

There are real reasons--you are right they know--why? Otherwise why are they making the change again. Certainly isnt to benefit the college level.

You certainly can't tell the Kobes, Kevin Garnetts and LeBron James they were ready both physically and mentally to some degree more than others ready for the NBA straight out of high school? And you didn't have to send them overseas or the D-League either.

These are rare now...then they bump it up to 19 as being ready. Again, they aren't ready to be real assets to the league. Why, that is, is what Im asking you. 

They aren't an asset right now. How polite is that to saying  you aren't ready at 18 or 19. Could it be you aren't mature enough for the game?

Like the NFL stop using age and say 3 years then age because its not  irrelevant but the mental readiness of the game for any athlete is always relevant that is what im speaking to.

[Inhogswetrust]

It's a good thing some other professions have a minimum and sometimes maximum age limit and/or academic requirement. I know I wouldn't want a 17 year old high school dropout being an air traffic controller or an 80 year old either.

[FaytownHog]

I don't see why talking about how "ready" they are is relevant.  If it is relevant then you end up splitting hairs.  Nobody knows the NBA better than the NBA itself and they decided that 18 year olds weren't ready enough to be an asset to their business. 

Why not let the free market decide then? If they can play, draft em. If they can't. Don't. No one is MAKING them take the guy out of HS over a 5th year college senior.

[FaytownHog]

So because the game is more physical takes more of toll on the body the rules are different?

Therefore we make exception to the rule here for the NFL and Hockey?

ABSOLUTELY! The NBA and MLB aren't leagues where the game requires  you to collide your body against your opponent in every play. In the NFL/NHL, a grown man, pro athlete up against a HS kid, might LITERALLY kill him. In the NBA/MLB, you throw a ball, put it through a hoop or hit it with a bat etc. If you can do it at the highest level, let em do it! If not, don't draft em, let em go to college etc. What's the big deal?

[Hoggle]

This will most likely happen and it will be the best thing that could happen to college basketball, short of a 3 year rule like the NFL.

The NBA likes it:  Better chance to evaluate, better trained "employees", etc

The NCAA likes it:  Better product on court (errr uh, I mean better educational opportunities!)

The NBA players association should/will like it:  Better job protection for existing members from prospective "employees" (it's not like there are fewer opportunities to play in the NBA - just a little protection for existing members/employees)

The courts are OK with it:
"The Court of Appeals overturned the lower court's decision, determining that the NFL's age minimum was valid and could remain in operation.  In reaching this conclusion, the court first pointed out that certain things can be collectively bargained between a union and employer that are beyond the reach of antitrust legislation. Congress favors collective bargaining agreements holding jurisdiction over industries so that judicial intervention is not needed nearly as frequently.  In the NFL's case, its collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") is negotiated with the NFL Player's Association, which represents the interests of all 32 teams.  Due to the Congressional preference that industries monitor themselves as much as possible, the age minimum that is negotiable at all NFL collective bargaining sessions is considered beyond antitrust legislation."

[Cotton]

Faytown is right. Why take away the opportunity? Eliminating the option doesn't do anything but hurt the handful of players that are good enough after 1 year of college.

Heck two of the best NBA players of the last 15 years didn't even play the one year of college that is now required.

It's obvious what they are doing. NCAA is striking up a deal with NBA for these players to stay in college longer so they make more $$$ off of them. A blind guy could see that.

"Benefits the players" what a crock.

[Cotton]

This will most likely happen and it will be the best thing that could happen to college basketball, short of a 3 year rule like the NFL.

The NBA likes it:  Better chance to evaluate, better trained "employees", etc

The NCAA likes it:  Better product on court (errr uh, I mean better chance to educate)

The NBA players association should/will like it:  Better job protection for existing members from prospective "employees" (it's not like there are fewer opportunities to play in the NBA - just a little protection for existing employees)

The courts are OK with it:
"The Court of Appeals overturned the lower court's decision, determining that the NFL's age minimum was valid and could remain in operation.  In reaching this conclusion, the court first pointed out that certain things can be collectively bargained between a union and employer that are beyond the reach of antitrust legislation. Congress favors collective bargaining agreements holding jurisdiction over industries so that judicial intervention is not needed nearly as frequently.  In the NFL's case, its collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") is negotiated with the NFL Player's Association, which represents the interests of all 32 teams.  Due to the Congressional preference that industries monitor themselves as much as possible, the age minimum that is negotiable at all NFL collective bargaining sessions is considered beyond antitrust legislation."

Funny, it benefits everybody but the players. The ones actually playing the game.

But hey it makes money for the NCAA! Rich get richer....

[FaytownHog]

Faytown is right. Why take away the opportunity? Eliminating the option doesn't do anything but hurt the handful of players that are good enough after 1 year of college.

Heck two of the best NBA players of the last 15 years didn't even play the one year of college that is now required.

It's obvious what they are doing. NCAA is striking up a deal with NBA for these players to stay in college longer so they make more $$$ off of them. A blind guy could see that.

"Benefits the players" what a crock.

EXACTLY! The NBA likes it bc it's a free product evaluation to eliminate some of their risk. It's not good for the players who could go straight away and make money. It's not good for college fans who are tired of hearing players who are never going pro, gripe about not getting paid like a pro. If you're good enough to go get paid, they should go do it. No complaints that way.
The NBA and coach Cal's bagman are the only two that benefit from it.