<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Arizona men's basketball coach Lute Olson didn't like it when the NBA set its minimum age requirement at only 19. And he's not happy that the NBA Development League decided yesterday to lower its age requirement to 18, which keeps the gate open for high school players wanting to turn pro instead of going to college. The rule begins in the 2006-07 season, as does the NBA's 19-year-old rule. "The thing that one needs to understand is the NBA is about the NBA and it'll do what's the best thing for them," Olson said. "I think it could backfire on them because a kid in the NBDL is not going to get the same kind of training, off-the-court discipline, developing leadership skills. It's ridiculous." Olson has said - and did again yesterday - that the age limit should be at least 20 to turn pro. "If (NBA officials) were to check the stats . . . the most productive people in their league - leadership, community - are the ones who stayed in college for more than two years," Olson said. "If they are not smart enough to know it's not going to hurt us, because the college game is always going to be great, it's going to hurt them. "They will get less and less mature people - people with less social skills who they will have to deal with, instead of us making sure they are ready." The D-League helps the NBA develop players. Former Wildcat Will Bynum played for the Roanoke Dazzle this season and then was signed by the Golden State Warriors. "While we believe the college game is the best choice for the majority of players coming out of high school, not every player will have the ability or desire to pursue that route," D-League vice president of player development Michael Curry said. </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">what? so now high school players can declare? wtf?</div> They cannot declare for the NBA Draft, but they can go straight to the DLeague out of highschool now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">They cannot declare for the NBA Draft, but they can go straight to the DLeague out of highschool now.</div> wait, so they go to Dleague and then get drafted? i wonder what greg odgen will do. but i still think college is a better choice. you get tv time and more scouts will be there to see you play
Greg Oden will never playin' the D-League, not because he has a big ego or something, but because he just that good, he's going to go to OSU and then hit the L.
Yeah, I too think that going college first is the best choice, because players learn things on the college level that they won't find in the pros; like maturity for one. Also, education never hurt anyone.
Mr OJ Mayo might goto the D league first. But wait can't a player goto the D league and then get signed by a NBA team?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BonziWellsFan:</div><div class="quote_post">Mr OJ Mayo might goto the D league first. But wait can't a player goto the D league and then get signed by a NBA team?</div> Ya they can but that's after they've entered the draft before
I think its the players choice. If some one wants to enter the league at 19 and doesnt live up to any hype that may surround him in the NBA, then thats his fault, thats his mistake.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">They cannot declare for the NBA Draft, but they can go straight to the DLeague out of highschool now.</div> Don't they want to get a education??
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Don't they want to get a education??</div> Its all about the moolah.
Of course it displeases him. It can possibly take away potential recruits. I'd be a hell of a lot more surprised if the title was 'Age Minimum Pleases Olson'. It's kind of a mood point anyway, because it's unlikely that any big time recruits go to the NBDL over college, and if they do, are they really the kind of players you want to recruit in the first place?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course it displeases him. It can possibly take away potential recruits. I'd be a hell of a lot more surprised if the title was 'Age Minimum Pleases Olson'. It's kind of a mood point anyway, because it's unlikely that any big time recruits go to the NBDL over college, and if they do, are they really the kind of players you want to recruit in the first place?</div> Lute doesn't like kids that comes only 1 year and then leave. He liked it when they had no age limit so he could go after kids that wouldn't leave. How many players except for Bibby were a one and done for Zona? Only other one I can think of was Iggy after his sophomore year......
