David Stern calls for a minimum age limit of 20 years old to be able to enter the NBA

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? In his annual midseason state of the game address on Saturday, Commissioner David Stern said despite the popularity of teenage prodigies LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, he still favors a 20-year-old age limit.

Stern believed the recent court ruling that allows Ohio State sophomore Maurice Clarett to enter the NFL Draft despite being out of high school for less than three years will be reversed.

Stern would rather teenage hopefuls who want to bypass college enter the NBA's Development League program instead of opting for the draft.</div>

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I find that completely stupid.

 

I dont think its a bad idea...the fundamentals are lacking horribly in todays game...in fact, its the immaturity of the youth that makes the NBA unwatchable at times...of course there will always be exceptions (LeBron, Carmelo) but it is clear something needs to be done for this young kids who can only dunk, but cant shoot, cant play defense...something needs to be done, a lotta kids can learn a lot by going to programs like UNC, Duke, Maryland or Kansas for 1-2 years....

 

I love this. I'm a college junkie, and nothing hurts me more than HS players passing up the NCAA for the pro's. I also hate it when guys like Erazem Lorebek and Zach Randolph (M.S.U.) leave before they are twenty, because it hurts the college team that thought they'd have them for all four years.

This is good, but I still think it'd be better to have players be able to be drafted after their HS Sr. year and still go to college. That works well for the NHL. I have to believe that LeBron James would have gone to three or four years of college if he knew he was going to be guaranteed a contract as soon as he left.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate this...LeBron and Carmelo is what the NBA needs, they get money..money means the NBA is selling...Wat if Lebron did go to college and he broke his ankle..completely shattered it and never recovered...that is a waste of talent right there...if they feel they are ready, then they should be able to make that jump...and BTW Stern...Clarett is going pro.</div>


I agree.....but you two sides to everything.

You can look at this two ways. The player has a right to pursue a career wherever and whenever...but the NBA has the right to set standards and precedents for its workers...just like any other job in this country..they have the right to set the standards for people working in their company...

 

I understand why Stern thinks this will help the league, to have players who learned more fundamentals in college. Lebron and 'Melo just proved that this move would be completely unnecessary, however. They're 19, they're adults, and they're obviously ready for the NBA. There's no reason to keep them from being pros, but there are plenty of reasons to encourage them. Players like these are major attractions, games sell out when Lebron comes to town. It's not like they're the only talented teenage ball players, either. Right now there are highschoolers all over the country being deemed "The Next Chosen One". If they're ready to play, let them play.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate this...LeBron and Carmelo is what the NBA needs, they get money..money means the NBA is selling...Wat if Lebron did go to college and he broke his ankle..completely shattered it and never recovered...that is a waste of talent right there...if they feel they are ready, then they should be able to make that jump...and BTW Stern...Clarett is going pro.</div>that's their risk.

they aren't ENTITLED to make millions in the NBA.

why make it easier for kids to jump to the NBA? it just encourages every kid to put all their eggs in one basket and go for the NBA.

 

This is the way I see it, when you're 18 you should be able to do what you want. You're grown. BUT If you finish High School at 17, then NO you cant do it unless you sign a contract not holding the NBA liable for any damage untill you are 18.

 

Well you can look at this two ways. The player has a right to pursue a career wherever and whenever...but the NBA has the right to set standards and precedents for its workers...just like any other job in this country..they have the right to set the standards for people working in their company...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Well you can look at this two ways. The player has a right to pursue a career wherever and whenever...but the NBA has the right to set standards and precedents for its workers...just like any other job in this country..they have the right to set the standards for people working in their company...</div>

Exactly, and we can't argue against the fact because the NBA does have the right to set the standards for the players playing in the league. However, I do feel that if the player thinks he's ready, than he should also have the right to go ahead and enter the league. Why put in all this extra work when you know you have enough talent to enter the league and be effective when your 18 or 19. Perfect example is LeBron James, of course we could have waited, but he came now and like QRich3 said, their are much more viewers and the NBA is selling better because of him, why wait though? And why do they pick the age 20 out of all things? Also, the players who do have the talent to leave early may have familes to feed, they need the money. Overall a bad decision if they decide to follow through on this.

 

Before Lebron how many players have come into the league out of high school and made an impact? None. It's taken them at least three years to do anything really..I think this may be for the players sake as well as the League. There just alot of cats that throw their careers away because they listen to what agents & coaches tell them...if they are forced to go to college for at least 2 years most of em would be alot better off.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Before Lebron how many players have come into the league out of high school and made an impact? None.</div>
Moses Malone. First year in the NBA he averaged 18pts 14rebs.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">Moses Malone. First year in the NBA he averaged 18pts 14rebs.</div>


I was referring to recently...back in the day cats didnt come out of high school all the time like they do now...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cArMeLo15:</div><div class="quote_post">I find that completely stupid.</div>
I'm not a fan of it, but it will serve a great purpose. Players need to learn the basic fundamentals of the game before entering the NBA. The players straight out of high school usually lack the basic footwork, boxing out, man to man defense, and cutting to the basket, which is taught in college ball.

Lebron James is the exception to everyone, and everything.

It might hurt the league monetary wise, but it's best for the players. Just think about Lenny Cooke or Omar Cook, both great players who should have stayed in school. Their talent was there, it just needed some polishing.

College fans/schools will love this. It will definitely bring some more hype to the college game, drawing more viewers and attracting the NBA audience.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">I was referring to recently...back in the day cats didnt come out of high school all the time like they do now...</div>

Amare Stoudemire.

Anyway, guess we won't be seeing Dwight Howard next year.

 

That is a pathetic rule. What if a great player is in high school and his prime is now? And by the time he enters the NBA he won't be that valuble .

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ming637:</div><div class="quote_post">That is a pathetic rule. What if a great player is in high school and his prime is now? And by the time he enters the NBA he won't be that valuble .</div>

Who the hell would be in their prime in High School? If you enter college, I don't know how you can lose the talent that you had before in HS.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Who the hell would be in their prime in High School? If you enter college, I don't know how you can lose the talent that you had before in HS.</div>
hit your prime in high school?

so by the time you're actually in the NBA, you're past your prime?

sorry, but that's ridiculous.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">hit your prime in high school?

so by the time you're actually in the NBA, you're past your prime?

sorry, but that's ridiculous.</div>

I'm not the one who made that statement, if you actually took time to read, you would have saw that I was quoting Ming637.