Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

[AlexBrady]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

Personally, I would love to see the old draft procedures return. Used to be that no player could be drafted until his freshman class graduated from college. This will never happen though because the NBA would be acting in restraint of trade.

The college scene reeks of petty morality and underhanded shenanigans. How many coaches are merely schmoozers and recruiters? Legitimate teachers like Dean Smith, Roy Williams, and Mike Krzyzewski are rare.

But assuming these players receive at least adequate instructions, the improvement in fundamentals would be staggering. For example:

-Cutting without the ball
-Screening
-Efficiently using off-ball screens
-Filling the proper lane on a fast break
-Making set-up and reverse passes
-Coming to a jump stop to pass instead of levitating
-Pulling up a speed dribble and shooting with proper balance
-Rubbing shoulders with a ball-screener instead of running a circle rout
-Showing and recovering on screen/rolls
-Boxing out
-Defending dive-cuts, post ups, fast breaks
-Closing out on perimeter shooters by coming to a jump stop
-Challenging right-handed shooters with the left hand and vice versa
-Defending against cross-, back-, double-, brush-, weak-side and staggered screens

All would be improved and the game would have a better chance of returning to past glory.

[24]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

Completely agree with Steve Kerr on this one. I was always a fan of raising the players eligibility age for those reasons. The part that I though was most interesting was when he compared Bird Magic and Jordan to Garnett Lebron and Kobe. I really believe that those three guys (even though they are huge superstars now) would have been better off staying in college a couple more years.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

3. Player development

I have tackled this many times before. We live in a different age. Young men are finding themselves ready phyiscally for the game now at earlier ages than 30 years ago.

How can you make an arguement that guys will develop faster in college than in the NBA. In college you have limited practise time, school work, vacations, sub par talent to work with/against, lessers skilled coaches, lesser resources, etc. In a game that's dominate by skill you don't transform your game with experience you do it in a gym with a trainer.

No, you have young men who believe they're ready for the NBA only to get there and in some cases realize it's not as easy as they thought it was and then eventually realize they need more than just the physical skills to make it.

Your second point, I see you bring up practice time and school work and vacations and limited resources. You would think by now, they would already be used to that so those are basically excuses in a way.

You can't reverse a lifetime of bad habits in two years. Personally the NBA is a business in these young men should approach it as such.

It's not about trying to reverse it, but it can at least prevent those bad habits from snowballing and becoming bigger issues than they already are. And you're right in that they should approach the NBA as a business but we ALL know that most of them don't and the ones that don't, either bounce around from team to team or in some cases are even out the league. And why? Because they come in with the mentality that they don't have to work and they rather do enough just to make the NBA as opposed to putting in the work to remain in the league.

[Jukeman]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

The problem here is that school is suppose to be about getting a degree, not getting ready for the NBA.

If you want young players to develop, then get a true minor league system.


Other than that all this is doing is putting more money into the NBA/NCAA's pockets.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

So why not go overseas or stay all 4 years if they want to develop their games?

Would a minor league system be any different than those 2 options?

[da ThRONe]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

No, you have young men who believe they're ready for the NBA only to get there and in some cases realize it's not as easy as they thought it was and then eventually realize they need more than just the physical skills to make it.

Your second point, I see you bring up practice time and school work and vacations and limited resources. You would think by now, they would already be used to that so those are basically excuses in a way.


It's not about trying to reverse it, but it can at least prevent those bad habits from snowballing and becoming bigger issues than they already are. And you're right in that they should approach the NBA as a business but we ALL know that most of them don't and the ones that don't, either bounce around from team to team or in some cases are even out the league. And why? Because they come in with the mentality that they don't have to work and they rather do enough just to make the NBA as opposed to putting in the work to remain in the league.

My point is that making a guy stay another year or two isn't going to fix the issues. Making LeBron go to college isn't going to force him to mature or develop his game. If he is able to dominate the pro game as is he'd destroy the college game with even less effort. If people kissed his *** all his life and it made him emotionally weak this isn't going to change at the next level. Money management isn't connected to age it's connect to culture. You can give a 50 year old a million dollars and if he's not use to having money more than likely he'll be broke in less then a decade.

There's no proof that guys who stay in school longer go on to have better careers. It's all based on speculation. Are fundementals eroding? Yes, but it's a culture thing not a lack of kids going to college. Much like most euro bigs all played a certain style. There's no logical reason to believe making young men stay any certain amount of time is going to change their mindset about money, work ethic, or the buisness side of the NBA.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

My point is that making a guy stay another year or two isn't going to fix the issues. Making LeBron go to college isn't going to force him to mature or develop his game. If he is able to dominate the pro game as is he'd destroy the college game with even less effort. If people kissed his *** all his life and it made him emotionally weak this isn't going to change at the next level. Money management isn't connected to age it's connect to culture. You can give a 50 year old a million dollars and if he's not use to having money more than likely he'll be broke in less then a decade.

There's no proof that guys who stay in school longer go on to have better careers. It's all based on speculation. Are fundementals eroding? Yes, but it's a culture thing not a lack of kids going to college. Much like most euro bigs all played a certain style. There's no logical reason to believe making young men stay any certain amount of time is going to change their mindset about money, work ethic, or the buisness side of the NBA.

Not saying you don't have good points, but for the record, there's a big difference between someone like LeBron James and someone like (for example) Kwame Brown/Sebastian Telfair/Kendrick Perkins. Also, it's noted that you see guys like Perry Jones who went to college but still never really developed their games, but I think one of the previous points made about more college = better NBA product holds ground simply because it allows NBA teams a better chance to figure out that someone like Kwame Brown isn't lottery-worthy. I think if kids were required to go to school, it would likely increase NBA teams ability to scout players.

Edit: Just in case my point wasn't clear, for example, look at Perry Jones and Harrison Barnes. Going into college, everyone thought they'd be like the top two picks or very close. But after 2 years in college, people are starting to see that Jones just hasn't developed much and Barnes is more of a complementary player rather than a franchise player. It gives NBA teams a better chance to figure out these kids that demolish at the high school level.

[da ThRONe]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

Not saying you don't have good points, but for the record, there's a big difference between someone like LeBron James and someone like (for example) Kwame Brown/Sebastian Telfair/Kendrick Perkins. Also, it's noted that you see guys like Perry Jones who went to college but still never really developed their games, but I think one of the previous points made about more college = better NBA product holds ground simply because it allows NBA teams a better chance to figure out that someone like Kwame Brown isn't lottery-worthy. I think if kids were required to go to school, it would likely increase NBA teams ability to scout players.

Edit: Just in case my point wasn't clear, for example, look at Perry Jones and Harrison Barnes. Going into college, everyone thought they'd be like the top two picks or very close. But after 2 years in college, people are starting to see that Jones just hasn't developed much and Barnes is more of a complementary player rather than a franchise player. It gives NBA teams a better chance to figure out these kids that demolish at the high school level.

I do agree with that, but the solution is simple. Pass on the players you aren't comfrontable drafting. Sure occasionally you'll look like a fool drafting Emeka Okafor over Dwight Howard, but more often than not you'll make the right decision. I just don't see that as a legit reason to have an age limit at all let alone bump it up to 20.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

My point is that making a guy stay another year or two isn't going to fix the issues. Making LeBron go to college isn't going to force him to mature or develop his game. If he is able to dominate the pro game as is he'd destroy the college game with even less effort. If people kissed his *** all his life and it made him emotionally weak this isn't going to change at the next level. Money management isn't connected to age it's connect to culture. You can give a 50 year old a million dollars and if he's not use to having money more than likely he'll be broke in less then a decade.

There's no proof that guys who stay in school longer go on to have better careers. It's all based on speculation. Are fundementals eroding? Yes, but it's a culture thing not a lack of kids going to college. Much like most euro bigs all played a certain style. There's no logical reason to believe making young men stay any certain amount of time is going to change their mindset about money, work ethic, or the buisness side of the NBA.

You keep bringing up Lebron everytime but ignore the fact that Lebron is the EXCEPTION, not the rule. Not everybody is Lebron where they can come out and damn near start to dominate from the beginning.

And of course there's logical reasons to increase it, you just chose to ignore those "logical reasons".

Again, what would be the difference between a true minor league system, going overseas or staying all 4 years if players wanted to develop their game?

[da ThRONe]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

You keep bringing up Lebron everytime but ignore the fact that Lebron is the EXCEPTION, not the rule. Not everybody is Lebron where they can come out and damn near start to dominate from the beginning.

And of course there's logical reasons to increase it, you just chose to ignore those "logical reasons".

Again, what would be the difference between a true minor league system, going overseas or staying all 4 years if players wanted to develop their game?

OK sub LeBron with Amare or Kobe. Hell I don't think Al Jefferson would be challenged much at the collegiate level.

I didn't ignore the logic just don't agree.

I believe players will develop better and faster in the league. So why go somewhere else that IMO will stunts their growth.

[wwharton]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

It's also ignoring the LEARNING part of college. What makes one think that an extra year will make these players mature more? Going to college for a year is a joke from the "on campus" stand point of things. With at least 2 years you have to take at least 1 year seriously. I don't completely agree with the point of going to college is to get a degree... it's to get you prepared for your future. These guys should be taking money management courses, courses on communication, etc. Meanwhile learning how to live on their own, balance a loose schedule and deal with adult issues in a more controlled environment than the real world.

Personally, I think they should have to stay 3 years. Anyone that doesn't want to has other avenues like going over seas if they still want to get in the NBA.

[wwharton]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

OK sub LeBron with Amare or Kobe. Hell I don't think Al Jefferson would be challenged much at the collegiate level.

I didn't ignore the logic just don't agree.

I believe players will develop better and faster in the league. So why go somewhere else that IMO will stunts their growth.

Kobe is more of an exception than anyone. His background is much different than 99% of the players that went straight to the pros or even the one and dones.

Either way, you can name all of the players that have had moderate success. The list of complete failures and journey men who were expected to be stars is still much longer.

[da ThRONe]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

Kobe is more of an exception than anyone. His background is much different than 99% of the players that went straight to the pros or even the one and dones.

Either way, you can name all of the players that have had moderate success. The list of complete failures and journey men who were expected to be stars is still much longer.

There's nothing conclusive that says 3 or 4 year players are more successful than HS and 1 and done players. I'm sure if you look at the list of 4 years players in the last 25 years they are more players out of the league after 5 years than HS player.

[Jukeman]

I'm willing to bet that the list of guys who stayed for 3 or more years has a larger failure rate.

If people want these kids to go to school and learn about life and management then instead of making an age limit, make the NBA an occupation that need a business degree instead of a HS diploma..

And what do you mean (PPM) what's the difference between a true minor league and over seas?

Im talking about the league wanting players to develop not the player himself. The league could have a true minor league system (signing bonus, rookie salary) with full affiliated teams. Nobody WANTS to go overseas if they could have the same opportunity here. If Kwame's not ready, send his *** down...

If LeBron don't like the signing bonus and has a better offer in the Euro's, then adios! (bet the NBA wouldn't like that huh?)

Baseball has it right but at the same time those baseball players ain't getting Nike endorsements after leaving Harvard...

If you go to college, you have to stay until your Jr year or the age of 21. (age min 18)

$$$$$

[da ThRONe]

Re: Steve Kerr Makes A Case for 20 Y/O Age Limit in NBA

I think if the goal is more mature players trying to address it with 17-20 year old young men will result in an extremely high failure rate no matter how many years their forced to stay.