<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said he thinks racism might have something to do with the NBA's desire to put an age limit in the next collective bargaining agreement. "In the last two or three years, the rookie of the year has been a high school player. There were seven high school players in the All-Star Game, so why we even talking an age limit?" O'Neal said. The past two rookies of the year were drafted out of high school: The Cavaliers' LeBron James was the 2003-04 rookie of the year, while the Suns' Amare Stoudemire won the award after the 2002-03 season. Players currently have to be at least 18 to be drafted, but NBA commissioner David Stern would like to see the age raised to 20. The NBA's seven-year labor agreement expires after the season. The union originally opposed raising the current age limit of 18, but has begun to waver. O'Neal doesn't agree with Stern's agenda, however. "As a black guy, you kind of think [race is] the reason why it's coming up. "You don't hear about it in baseball or hockey. To say you have to be 20, 21 to get in the league, it's unconstitutional. If I can go to the U.S. Army and fight the war at 18 why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?" O'Neal said.</div> Source
Jermaine is an idiot. I understood what Jermaine said as far as argument goes and he makes a good points, but for him to mention about race is lame and idiotic. I am sure Stern would be okay with young kids playing, but the NBA does not have minor leagues the way MLB and NHL has which is something Jermaine and folks who are for guys to play the NBA at the age of 18. Maybe what the NBA needs to do is create minor leagues and no the NBDL is not what I am talking about.
