Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

[Junior Moe]

I ask that question because many of the top players only care about getting to the NBA. Why force these kids to be "student athletes" when they only care about the athlete portion? Its a blatant sham and is an insult to the other students and student athletes who are there for an education. I like the idea of allowing these players to go strait to the NBDL. It wont provide the exposure a Final Four run could but they can hone their skills against better competition.They can hire agents and get paid and focus exclusively on their craft without the distraction of classes and violating NCAA rules. Then be eligible for the NBA draft after that season is done.

As a basketball fan I like the idea of having the the players commit at least 2 (you can earn an associates in that time) years to college instead of the one year mockery it has become. The kids will know this going in so there is no doubt what they are signing up for. It would lead to better quality on the court and in the classroom. As of now, these one and done players only have to stay academically eligible for one semester, then they can skate the second semester because they know that they aren't coming back in the fall. Thoughts...

[ojandpizza]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

This topic is always discussed around here and I've never jumped in, so I'll give my input in this thread..

I do not believe that kids should have to go to college. The point of going to college in the first place is for people to get a degree that leads to a career.. Playing professional basketball is a career, a career that doesn't require you to have a college degree.. So from my perspective making a kid go take a years worth of college classes is a waste of time, waste of money, and 100% not needed.

I don't think we should increase it to 2 years or 3 years.. That's just more money wasted on someone who doesn't want to be in college in the first place.

I personally would much rather see these kids spend a year in the D-League, and make it more of a minor league type system, that way scholarship money isn't wasted on kids who don't want a degree and kids who want no part in going to college can still make a career out of playing basketball.

I know how college athletes now register for a wasted year of bull crap classes just to maintain a high enough GPA to play sports.. And college professors let them get away with missed assignments and other crap probably just as much as their high school teachers did.. Scholarship money should not be wasted on things like that. Not when many other kids need that money.

If a guy wants a degree he can go to college and then the pros.. If a kid starts at college and then realizes he can be a draft pick let him leave if that's his career choice.. But for someone who never wanted to be at college in the first place there should be a better way to get recognition.

This could also potentially route out a bunch of "bust" type players.. If a top recruit struggles in the D-league maybe he isn't drafted until later in the draft, or maybe he has to spend a couple years in the D-League before a team grabs him.. I think in the long run this also makes the D-League more competitive.

[Junior Moe]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

ojandpizza, I couldn't agree more. I was listening to Mark Cubans comments on the topic and I realized how much sense he was making. If a kid wants to focus exclusively on basketball then let him earn a living doing so. Forcing these kids to be "students" when they have no interest in class is a wasted admission spot for a real student.

I just like the 2 or 3 year idea because its an actual commitment to an education, and there is enough time to earn a degree. But for the players who blossom or just decide they want to go pro afterwards, they should have that option to go on to the NBDL if they like.

I think that the college game would prosper because the players that are there want to be playing college ball and we get to watch their game evolve (or not). The NBDL would win too because they would have some nice intriguing talent there and we could see how they would fare against pros. Finally, the NBA would win because the prospects, whether they come from college or the NBDL, would be more refined coming in. There would be fewer of those "project" players because we would have seen more of their game. If the NBA does move to a 2 years removed from high school rule I could see more of an emphasis being put on the development league.

[MattUM]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I also think they should expand the D-league; making them go to college for 1 year is just an egregious waste of time and money. A player can declare from high school, but would have to spend time there til at least all star break. I'm surprised more players haven't done what Brandon Jennings did, he got nearly $4 million to go play in Italy for a year after graduation. The rule is one year removed from HS graduation, they do not have to go to college...just most do so as that's been the traditional route.

If a player chooses to go to school, I think he should be forced to stay 3-4 years until he can complete a degree or be forced to pay back his scholarship money with the NBA contract if he drops out for the draft. I don't think it's fair how an athlete can go to school for 1-2 years completely free, then leave for the draft with no obligation to pay back the school. This money should go to a scholarship fund for underprivileged students/athletes who will go to school for 4 years and get a degree. I luckily had a full-tuition academic scholarship for my undergrad, so I have money saved to pay for my current medical school expenses. With college as pricey as it is, I think if you're gonna get a $3 mil+ a year rookie contract after a year or two in school, you should pay back the $50k or whatever it is so everyone who isn't going to the NBA isn't disadvantaged.

[BringTheHeat]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

What do you guys think about being drafted out of high school and still going to college? Kind of like a "rights" thing.

[Junior Moe]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

BringTheHeat, That could work if a kid decides he would rather attend school. But if the kid attends school they should know that they are there for an education. Not a 1 year pit-stop. The NBDL and Europe are viable options to play ball and get paid. I know that the top talent bring ratings and revenue to the schools but student's burdening themselves with student loans and the 99% of the real student athletes who aren't going pro are there for an education. The original intent of college.

[EAGLESFAN10]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I think high school players should be able to go straight to the NBA because you can always get your degree while your in the NBA and after you retire

[redsrule]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I think high school players should be able to go straight to the NBA because you can always get your degree while your in the NBA and after you retire

It isn't about getting a degree. Top guys don't stay more than a year anyway. It's about getting "ready" for the NBA. Obviously some guys are ready right after high school while others aren't and ruin their careers by going early.

[Dice]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I think they should do something similar to baseball.

Allow high schoolers to enter the NBA draft and only allow them not to play pro level ball for at least one year. This still keeps in tact the current 1 year out of high school rule right now to some degree.

If a player enrolls on a 4-year university, he needs to stay for at least 3 years. If the student happens to drop out before the 3 years, he has to wait out the remaining years in order to be eligible for pro ball. This would probably give some sort of incentive to the player who chooses college to stick with it until his time. Then again, if a player decides to drop out, he still has the overseas option.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I think they should do something similar to baseball.



Allow high schoolers to enter the NBA draft and only allow them not to play pro level ball for at least one year. This still keeps in tact the current 1 year out of high school rule right now to some degree.



If a player enrolls on a 4-year university, he needs to stay for at least 3 years. If the student happens to drop out before the 3 years, he has to wait out the remaining years in order to be eligible for pro ball. This would probably give some sort of incentive to the player who chooses college to stick with it until his time. Then again, if a player decides to drop out, he still has the overseas option.

But say a kid thinks he wants to attend college and then a year later decides it's not for him. I mean people do this all the time, not just athletes.. I just see no point in making a kid who doesn't want to be there stay for 3 years.

Just because a player drops out I don't think the only choices he should have is go live overseas or wait around two more years because he can't play in the league before then..

Even though it is basketball it's still a job, it's how these people earn their living.. I just think it should be treated more like a job.

[Dice]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

But say a kid thinks he wants to attend college and then a year later decides it's not for him. I mean people do this all the time, not just athletes.. I just see no point in making a kid who doesn't want to be there stay for 3 years.

Just because a player drops out I don't think the only choices he should have is go live overseas or wait around two more years because he can't play in the league before then..

Even though it is basketball it's still a job, it's how these people earn their living.. I just think it should be treated more like a job.

But at the same time, this player needs to make a choice. If he wants to play basketball, then let him play basketball. He has an option to go pro he just would be playing in the NBDL for his first year. Then afterwords, he can launch his NBA career.

The college option is just there for players who are serious about their education. We all know that 9 out of 10 blue chippers that go from high school to college today are looking to be drafted and just forget everything else about college. Despite the fact that there are "so-called" rules in place to keep the athletes up to par academically.

Besides, you don't have to go to college to get a job if you look at it from that perspective. So if you feel basketball is your job then just simply don't go to college.

[ehh]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I'd love to see a 21-year-old age limit where kids have to be in college for three years. This is about more than players, it's about improving the piss-poor development system in our country. It's for the betterment of colleges and the NBA. Kids have to wait a few more years to be millionaires then so be it. It works in college football and the NFL and you don't see a ton of injuries derailing promising careers in a far more physical and brutal sport than basketball.

The NBA is private entity, you don't have a right to play in it. If you want to go be a pro when you're 18 go to another country and play there.


I wouldn't be opposed to an alternate - if players don't want to go to college they can be drafted out of HS but can't be on an active NBA roster until they're 21. Teams can develop them in the D-League and have them practice with their NBA organization but can't play in NBA games.

The 18-21 year old range - while players would be in the D-League they would have a very small salary relatively speaking, say no more than $100k. If the kids turn out to be total busts, immature headcases, etc after that three-year period (when they turn 21) the team can part ways and be out nothing more than $300k and a lottery pick. The player can become a free agent (with the rookie pay scale enforced) and move on to another team, or if they're bad enough they'll just be out of the league already.

[da ThRONe]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I want to know where the data is that says going to college improves player development.


All I hear is one and done are ruining college and pro sports yet there's no data or even logic to back this up. If the NCAA wants to improve their game maybe they should reduce the shot clock for starters. If the NBA wants to improve the league they should reduce the season for starters.


It makes no logical sense to think that increasing a person resources and time to get better at a skill actually makes them worse.

[ehh]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I want to know where the data is that says going to college improves player development.

I think college improves players' maturity moreso than their games. Most elite HS recruits never face any sort of adversity on the court before getting to college. Most also aren't in shape enough to jump right to the NBA.

And thanks to AAU's awfulness most have a lot way to go in most aspects of basketball.

It makes no logical sense to think that increasing a person resources and time to get better at a skill actually makes them worse.

IMO this is a big misconception about the NBA, at least I think this is what you're referring to. NBA life isn't built or designed to let teams develop players that are extremely raw or simply not ready to play in the NBA.

Once the season gets rolling teams are barely practicing and when they do it's an easy walk-through type of practice. It's not like an 18 year old, raw 7-footer is going to be practicing hard against the team's starting front court every day to improve themselves.

Their coach is concerned with their current rotation and winning games. He isn't going to want to spend a ton of time developing a guy who's raw as can be.

While they'll face a lower level of competition in college, they'll be practicing 2-3 hours a day, going through hard practices and playing two games per week. That's a lot better than working with NBA assistant coaches three hours before an NBA game getting in an individual workout and then sitting on the bench for 48 minutes. Or getting sent to the D-League.

[KG]

Re: Should the NBA/NCAA allow players to go strait to the pros?

I think college improves players' maturity moreso than their games. Most elite HS recruits never face any sort of adversity on the court before getting to college. Most also aren't in shape enough to jump right to the NBA.

And thanks to AAU's awfulness most have a lot way to go in most aspects of basketball.



IMO this is a big misconception about the NBA, at least I think this is what you're referring to. NBA life isn't built or designed to let teams develop players that are extremely raw or simply not ready to play in the NBA.

Once the season gets rolling teams are barely practicing and when they do it's an easy walk-through type of practice. It's not like an 18 year old, raw 7-footer is going to be practicing hard against the team's starting front court every day to improve themselves.

Their coach is concerned with their current rotation and winning games. He isn't going to want to spend a ton of time developing a guy who's raw as can be.

While they'll face a lower level of competition in college, they'll be practicing 2-3 hours a day, going through hard practices and playing two games per week. That's a lot better than working with NBA assistant coaches three hours before an NBA game getting in an individual workout and then sitting on the bench for 48 minutes. Or getting sent to the D-League.

The young guys do get in great individual workouts though, before games and on days off.

It's such a hard decision because kids mature differently (on & off the court). There was a time in the late-90s, early 2000s where a lot of the NBA stars were kids straight out of HS (Kobe, T-Mac, KG, etc...). IDK, maybe the league should expand the draft allowing teams to stash more kids in the D-League for development.