NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

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  • NYJets
    Hall Of Fame
    • Jul 2002
    • 18637

    #31
    Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

    Great move for both college and NBA.
    Originally posted by Jay Bilas
    The question isn't whether UConn belongs with the elites, but over the last 20 years, whether the rest of the college basketball elite belongs with UConn

    Comment

    • Rocky
      All Star
      • Jul 2002
      • 6896

      #32
      Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

      Originally posted by Brankles
      Why is there such a big discrepency within the top 10 players in the NBA of HS to College Players?

      Top 10 NBA:
      High Schoolers--
      Kevin Garnett
      Kobe Bryant
      Tracy McGrady
      Lebron James
      Jermaine O'Neal or Amare Stoudemire

      College Players--
      Allen Iverson (1 year in College)
      Jason Kidd
      Tim Duncan
      Shaq
      Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki (Dirk didn't go to college)

      That's my list of the top 10... so it may change within each person's list... but if half of the top 10 players in the league are from High School... how can you say college would have been better for them?

      I don't like this rule one bit. I don't see the good of it anywhere.

      The advantage of going to the NBA over College:
      You don't have to worry about money and school
      You concentrate solely on basketball
      You have the best coaches/trainers in the world at your call 24/7
      You play and practice with the best basketball players in the world

      If you aren't going to improve in the NBA... you aren't going to improve in college...



      Holla

      The problem with that is that Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Lebron James, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, etc. are all EXTREMELY SUPER talented. They could've went to Siberia for 4 years and still be all-stars in the NBA. For them, it didn't matter whether they went to college or not. For all the others who weren't so fortunate, college would've done them well. Hell, I'm not so sure that T-Mac, KG(winning big games), or Kobe(playing with teammates) wouldn't have benefitted from playing in college. Just to put things in perspective, Lebron James has really not played in a meaningful game in his life. You think March Madness, which in terms of fanfare and popularity, is nearly as big than the NBA Playoffs, wouldn't have done him any good.

      As for advantages of going to the NBA over college:
      I hate to disagree with this because the NCAA is such a hypocritical pile of crap, but you can make a case that not having loads of money will help them later on in life. Plus do we need 18, 19, and 20 year old millionaires.

      They seem to have about the same place to me. In one spectrum, you got school work and partying with friends taking from basketball. In the other spectrum, you have clubbing, hangers on, women, etc taking from basketball. I'd take the latter, but that doesn't mean it would be better for me.

      The best coaches? Maybe so, but college coaches are much better for guys 18, 19, and 20 years of age. Ask MJ about the importance of Dean Smith, or others about Coach K, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, John Cheney, John Thompson, Roy Williams, and Tubby Smith.

      In college, you practice with your peers to carry a team against great competion.
      Last edited by Rocky; 03-05-2005, 09:57 PM.
      "Maybe I can't win. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that."
      -Rocky Balboa

      Comment

      • Rocky
        All Star
        • Jul 2002
        • 6896

        #33
        Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

        Originally posted by Brankles
        Why is there such a big discrepency within the top 10 players in the NBA of HS to College Players?

        Top 10 NBA:
        High Schoolers--
        Kevin Garnett
        Kobe Bryant
        Tracy McGrady
        Lebron James
        Jermaine O'Neal or Amare Stoudemire

        College Players--
        Allen Iverson (1 year in College)
        Jason Kidd
        Tim Duncan
        Shaq
        Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki (Dirk didn't go to college)

        That's my list of the top 10... so it may change within each person's list... but if half of the top 10 players in the league are from High School... how can you say college would have been better for them?

        I don't like this rule one bit. I don't see the good of it anywhere.

        The advantage of going to the NBA over College:
        You don't have to worry about money and school
        You concentrate solely on basketball
        You have the best coaches/trainers in the world at your call 24/7
        You play and practice with the best basketball players in the world

        If you aren't going to improve in the NBA... you aren't going to improve in college...



        Holla

        The problem with that is that Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Lebron James, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, etc. are all EXTREMELY SUPER talented. They could've went to Siberia for 4 years and still be all-stars in the NBA. For them, it didn't matter whether they went to college or not. For all the others who weren't so fortunate, college would've done them well. Hell, I'm not so sure that T-Mac, KG(winning big games), or Kobe(playing with teammates) wouldn't have benefitted from playing in college. Just to put things in perspective, Lebron James has really not played in a meaningful game in his life. You think March Madness, which in terms of fanfare and popularity, is nearly as big than the NBA Playoffs, wouldn't have done him any good.

        As for advantages of going to the NBA over college:
        I hate to disagree with this because the NCAA is such a hypocritical pile of crap, but you can make a case that not having loads of money will help them later on in life. Plus do we need 18, 19, and 20 year old millionaires.

        They seem to have about the same place to me. In one spectrum, you got school work and partying with friends taking from basketball. In the other spectrum, you have clubbing, hangers on, women, etc taking from basketball. I'd take the latter, but that doesn't mean it would be better for me.

        The best coaches? Maybe so, but college coaches are much better for guys 18, 19, and 20 years of age. Ask MJ about the importance of Dean Smith, or others about Coach K, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, John Cheney, John Thompson, Roy Williams, and Tubby Smith.

        In college, you practice with your peers to carry a team against great competion.
        "Maybe I can't win. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that."
        -Rocky Balboa

        Comment

        • XboxRocks1991
          MVP
          • Jun 2003
          • 1927

          #34
          Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

          i agree with the new rule. But had it would make LeBron James ineligible for these past 2 years.

          What about the current 20 year old and unders currently in the NBA? I would I assume they stay in the NBA?
          Michael Phelps for 8 gold medals in Beijing 2008
          Texas Longhorns for a National Championship

          AIM-NextGenHotShot

          Comment

          • XboxRocks1991
            MVP
            • Jun 2003
            • 1927

            #35
            Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

            i agree with the new rule. But had it would make LeBron James ineligible for these past 2 years.

            What about the current 20 year old and unders currently in the NBA? I would I assume they stay in the NBA?
            Michael Phelps for 8 gold medals in Beijing 2008
            Texas Longhorns for a National Championship

            AIM-NextGenHotShot

            Comment

            • Skins4Life
              MVP
              • Jul 2002
              • 2286

              #36
              Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

              Originally posted by jmood88
              There's no gurantee that jermaine oneal would've been any different if he went to college. He got to see how life in the nba is and he got to practice with some of the best players in the world. He also got to experience nba coaching. So many people love the europeon style of playing but those guys are in the pros when they are 11-12.
              I beg to differ.

              There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

              I hear you on the practicing with the NBA guys, but if you choose a school like Duke or other elite schools you still have that talent around you.

              For all the guys listed that made it big out of HS, there are 50 Jon Benders.

              Comment

              • Skins4Life
                MVP
                • Jul 2002
                • 2286

                #37
                Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                Originally posted by jmood88
                There's no gurantee that jermaine oneal would've been any different if he went to college. He got to see how life in the nba is and he got to practice with some of the best players in the world. He also got to experience nba coaching. So many people love the europeon style of playing but those guys are in the pros when they are 11-12.
                I beg to differ.

                There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

                I hear you on the practicing with the NBA guys, but if you choose a school like Duke or other elite schools you still have that talent around you.

                For all the guys listed that made it big out of HS, there are 50 Jon Benders.

                Comment

                • Skins4Life
                  MVP
                  • Jul 2002
                  • 2286

                  #38
                  Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                  Originally posted by Brankles

                  I don't like this rule one bit. I don't see the good of it anywhere.

                  The advantage of going to the NBA over College:
                  You don't have to worry about money and school
                  Most of those guys have scholarships and get money from boosters. Worst case they take out loans and have to pay them back when they get paid from the NBA
                  You concentrate solely on basketball
                  Dont buy that one a bit. I know you have some guys that do care about school, but thats rare. Most guys just want to ball, and other then party thats all they do.
                  You have the best coaches/trainers in the world at your call 24/7
                  YOu get the same thing if you choose the right college. Coach K much?
                  You play and practice with the best basketball players in the world
                  Like I said above, that is true to a point, but its not like college players are horrible or anything.......
                  If you aren't going to improve in the NBA... you aren't going to improve in college...
                  i completly disagree. There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

                  Comment

                  • Skins4Life
                    MVP
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 2286

                    #39
                    Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                    Originally posted by Brankles

                    I don't like this rule one bit. I don't see the good of it anywhere.

                    The advantage of going to the NBA over College:
                    You don't have to worry about money and school
                    Most of those guys have scholarships and get money from boosters. Worst case they take out loans and have to pay them back when they get paid from the NBA
                    You concentrate solely on basketball
                    Dont buy that one a bit. I know you have some guys that do care about school, but thats rare. Most guys just want to ball, and other then party thats all they do.
                    You have the best coaches/trainers in the world at your call 24/7
                    YOu get the same thing if you choose the right college. Coach K much?
                    You play and practice with the best basketball players in the world
                    Like I said above, that is true to a point, but its not like college players are horrible or anything.......
                    If you aren't going to improve in the NBA... you aren't going to improve in college...
                    i completly disagree. There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

                    Comment

                    • jmood88
                      Sean Payton: Retribution
                      • Jul 2003
                      • 34639

                      #40
                      Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                      Originally posted by Skins4Life
                      Most of those guys have scholarships and get money from boosters. Worst case they take out loans and have to pay them back when they get paid from the NBA
                      If they get any money from boosters and get caught then they'll get kicked out of school and lower their draft status.
                      YOu get the same thing if you choose the right college. Coach K much?
                      Not everyone will get an offer to duke and not all college coaches actually care about their players[/quote]
                      i completly disagree. There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)
                      And there have been guys who got great while in the nba. And just because you have a couple of players who have a hard time adjusting to life in the nba doesn't mean anything. Players who go to college for four years and then go to the nba have to adjust too. Why don't you talk about amare stadomire(sp) or kevin garnett or lebron?
                      Originally posted by Blzer
                      Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                      If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                      Comment

                      • jmood88
                        Sean Payton: Retribution
                        • Jul 2003
                        • 34639

                        #41
                        Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                        Originally posted by Skins4Life
                        Most of those guys have scholarships and get money from boosters. Worst case they take out loans and have to pay them back when they get paid from the NBA
                        If they get any money from boosters and get caught then they'll get kicked out of school and lower their draft status.
                        YOu get the same thing if you choose the right college. Coach K much?
                        Not everyone will get an offer to duke and not all college coaches actually care about their players[/quote]
                        i completly disagree. There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)
                        And there have been guys who got great while in the nba. And just because you have a couple of players who have a hard time adjusting to life in the nba doesn't mean anything. Players who go to college for four years and then go to the nba have to adjust too. Why don't you talk about amare stadomire(sp) or kevin garnett or lebron?
                        Originally posted by Blzer
                        Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                        If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                        Comment

                        • jmood88
                          Sean Payton: Retribution
                          • Jul 2003
                          • 34639

                          #42
                          Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                          Originally posted by Skins4Life
                          I beg to differ.

                          There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

                          I hear you on the practicing with the NBA guys, but if you choose a school like Duke or other elite schools you still have that talent around you.

                          For all the guys listed that made it big out of HS, there are 50 Jon Benders.
                          Jon Bender is an alright player, you don't have to be a superstar to be in the nba. And if you go to a school like duke it doesn't mean anything. Practicing against nba guys is better then what any college team can give you, there's no comparison at all. Oh yeah, please list those 50 other guys who have done bad coming out of high school or left college early.
                          Originally posted by Blzer
                          Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                          If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                          Comment

                          • jmood88
                            Sean Payton: Retribution
                            • Jul 2003
                            • 34639

                            #43
                            Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                            Originally posted by Skins4Life
                            I beg to differ.

                            There have been plenty of guys that went to school 2 or 3 years and they greatly inproved theis game. Now some great athletes maybe its doesnt help, but school helps let them mature not only from a basketball POV but also lets them mature (I wont get into teh article I read in the post when Kwame got drafted and didnt know how to iron, fold his clothes, do laundry, etc....)

                            I hear you on the practicing with the NBA guys, but if you choose a school like Duke or other elite schools you still have that talent around you.

                            For all the guys listed that made it big out of HS, there are 50 Jon Benders.
                            Jon Bender is an alright player, you don't have to be a superstar to be in the nba. And if you go to a school like duke it doesn't mean anything. Practicing against nba guys is better then what any college team can give you, there's no comparison at all. Oh yeah, please list those 50 other guys who have done bad coming out of high school or left college early.
                            Originally posted by Blzer
                            Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                            If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                            Comment

                            • jmood88
                              Sean Payton: Retribution
                              • Jul 2003
                              • 34639

                              #44
                              Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                              The most compelling statistic of the article, though, is that only 29 players have entered the NBA draft as high schoolers in the past 25 years. This tends to dispel the myth that the NBA is being overrun by players who have never experienced college. Of those 29, many have become "stars" or "superstars," while less than half are deemed "busts" or have been relegated to "minor league" basketball. Is the problem as bad as critics make it out to be?
                              And here's the whole article.
                              High Schoolers and the NBA: Michael McCann, a visiting scholar at Harvard, has recently published an outstanding article on the legal and economic implications of high schoolers skipping college and entering the NBA directly. The article, "Illegal Defense: The Irrational Economics of Banning High School Players from the NBA Draft," was published in this spring's Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal.

                              The article approaches the issue from two perspectives: economic and legal. On the one hand, it argues that there are substantial legal barriers to the NBA imposing an age limit on its draft (David Stern has advocated a minimum age of 20). However, McCann argues, the evidence shows that high schoolers have been successful, both financially and professionally, as NBA players. For instance, McCann finds that salaries for players skipping college are equal or higher than players that attended college. In addition, he notes the substantial economic cost of a player, especially a star player, foregoing four years of professional basketball for college, noting that in some cases the difference could be $100 million.

                              The most compelling statistic of the article, though, is that only 29 players have entered the NBA draft as high schoolers in the past 25 years. This tends to dispel the myth that the NBA is being overrun by players who have never experienced college. Of those 29, many have become "stars" or "superstars," while less than half are deemed "busts" or have been relegated to "minor league" basketball. Is the problem as bad as critics make it out to be?

                              I would actually be more interested in seeing an analysis of players who enter the NBA draft at under 20, versus those that are 20 and older. This mirrors the NBA's proposed rule and would give a better statistical sample. The main problem with McCann's analysis is that the majority of high schoolers entering the draft are either (i) superstar quality (i.e., Kobe, Lebron, Garnett) or (ii) players that cannot qualify academically for the NCAA. This lack of test subjects means the statistics may be greatly skewed by the great number of outliers, both at the top and the bottom. Widening the analysis to include players that leave college early, versus those that have gained greater experience before entering the league, could perhaps be more helpful in determining if a problem exists.

                              In addition, the article tends to downplay the importance of time spent in college. McCann notes that the actual education obtained by players will not greatly enhance their NBA experience, but these are not the most important assets of a college experience. On page 50, McCann notes that college basketball players in fact have less free time than a normal student, meaning that they must learn the valuable skills of time management and balancing multiple tasks. On page 63, McCann lists no benefits for the players who participate in the NCAA postseason tournament. However, possible benefits to these players are clear: (1) the experience of playing in a championship, high pressure setting; (2) numerous playing minutes, rather than sitting on the bench; and (3) a national stage on which to showcase their talent. A prime example of this is Juan Dixon, a four-year player who parlayed a run to the national championship into becoming a first-round draft pick. Dixon was known before the tournament, but not considered a superstar. The national stage allowed him to showcase his skills and he still plays with the NBA's Wizards.

                              In addition, the article notes the "economic cost" of players who give up four years of professional money to play in college, and thus, have less ability to sign large contracts due to their advanced age. As the article correctly notes, the skills of many players decline after age 30, meaning they will often not be able to sign large contracts. However, I would be interested in comparing the average career length of a player with college experience versus one with none or little. It may be true that players could make more in the short run by skipping college, but perhaps the skills gained in four years on campus translate into a longer overall career. After all, once raw talent is diminished by age, a player can only rely on knowledge and skills. In addition, if as the article states, teams want "teachers" for their younger players, those that have developed the necessary skills may be more sought after. Thus, it may be true that players who attend college in fact earn more money over their entire career than those that go for the quick buck. To use the examples on page 47, Shane Battier has established himself as a role player and most likely will make millions of dollars a season until well into his thirties. However, once Tyson Chandler loses the advantages of youth, will he be of any use to an NBA team?

                              Though I have small quibbles with the economic questions addressed, the overall quality of the article is first-rate. This is exemplified in the legal section, which gives perhaps the best analysis of relevant labor and antitrust law as it applies to sports. McCann is correct -- the 2nd Circuit's decision in Clarett may well decide the fate of a proposed NBA age limit. As I stated in this earlier post, I believe the collectively-bargained rule could be viewed as including players not yet eligible for the draft. Yes, there is an exclusion, but the exclusion is only temporary, and it does not prevent anyone from playing in the NBA. There is also a strong slippery slope argument -- if the NBA cannot set an age limit at 20, how can it require that players finish high school before they are drafted? There appears to be no need for a high school diploma in the NBA; thus, how does such a requirement not violate antitrust laws? If Freddy Adu can play professional soccer at 14, what is to stop a high school junior from declaring for the draft?

                              Many of these issues will be resolved over the next few years, and the impact on professional sports could be great. While McCann's article does not definitively answer any of the key questions, it provides a useful framework for analysis and shows that the leagues will face substantial obstacles in limiting the eligibility of potential players.
                              Blogger is a blog publishing tool from Google for easily sharing your thoughts with the world. Blogger makes it simple to post text, photos and video onto your personal or team blog.
                              Last edited by jmood88; 03-05-2005, 11:51 PM.
                              Originally posted by Blzer
                              Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                              If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                              Comment

                              • jmood88
                                Sean Payton: Retribution
                                • Jul 2003
                                • 34639

                                #45
                                Re: NBA to have age limit as soon as next year (20 yrs. old)

                                The most compelling statistic of the article, though, is that only 29 players have entered the NBA draft as high schoolers in the past 25 years. This tends to dispel the myth that the NBA is being overrun by players who have never experienced college. Of those 29, many have become "stars" or "superstars," while less than half are deemed "busts" or have been relegated to "minor league" basketball. Is the problem as bad as critics make it out to be?
                                And here's the whole article.
                                High Schoolers and the NBA: Michael McCann, a visiting scholar at Harvard, has recently published an outstanding article on the legal and economic implications of high schoolers skipping college and entering the NBA directly. The article, "Illegal Defense: The Irrational Economics of Banning High School Players from the NBA Draft," was published in this spring's Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal.

                                The article approaches the issue from two perspectives: economic and legal. On the one hand, it argues that there are substantial legal barriers to the NBA imposing an age limit on its draft (David Stern has advocated a minimum age of 20). However, McCann argues, the evidence shows that high schoolers have been successful, both financially and professionally, as NBA players. For instance, McCann finds that salaries for players skipping college are equal or higher than players that attended college. In addition, he notes the substantial economic cost of a player, especially a star player, foregoing four years of professional basketball for college, noting that in some cases the difference could be $100 million.

                                The most compelling statistic of the article, though, is that only 29 players have entered the NBA draft as high schoolers in the past 25 years. This tends to dispel the myth that the NBA is being overrun by players who have never experienced college. Of those 29, many have become "stars" or "superstars," while less than half are deemed "busts" or have been relegated to "minor league" basketball. Is the problem as bad as critics make it out to be?

                                I would actually be more interested in seeing an analysis of players who enter the NBA draft at under 20, versus those that are 20 and older. This mirrors the NBA's proposed rule and would give a better statistical sample. The main problem with McCann's analysis is that the majority of high schoolers entering the draft are either (i) superstar quality (i.e., Kobe, Lebron, Garnett) or (ii) players that cannot qualify academically for the NCAA. This lack of test subjects means the statistics may be greatly skewed by the great number of outliers, both at the top and the bottom. Widening the analysis to include players that leave college early, versus those that have gained greater experience before entering the league, could perhaps be more helpful in determining if a problem exists.

                                In addition, the article tends to downplay the importance of time spent in college. McCann notes that the actual education obtained by players will not greatly enhance their NBA experience, but these are not the most important assets of a college experience. On page 50, McCann notes that college basketball players in fact have less free time than a normal student, meaning that they must learn the valuable skills of time management and balancing multiple tasks. On page 63, McCann lists no benefits for the players who participate in the NCAA postseason tournament. However, possible benefits to these players are clear: (1) the experience of playing in a championship, high pressure setting; (2) numerous playing minutes, rather than sitting on the bench; and (3) a national stage on which to showcase their talent. A prime example of this is Juan Dixon, a four-year player who parlayed a run to the national championship into becoming a first-round draft pick. Dixon was known before the tournament, but not considered a superstar. The national stage allowed him to showcase his skills and he still plays with the NBA's Wizards.

                                In addition, the article notes the "economic cost" of players who give up four years of professional money to play in college, and thus, have less ability to sign large contracts due to their advanced age. As the article correctly notes, the skills of many players decline after age 30, meaning they will often not be able to sign large contracts. However, I would be interested in comparing the average career length of a player with college experience versus one with none or little. It may be true that players could make more in the short run by skipping college, but perhaps the skills gained in four years on campus translate into a longer overall career. After all, once raw talent is diminished by age, a player can only rely on knowledge and skills. In addition, if as the article states, teams want "teachers" for their younger players, those that have developed the necessary skills may be more sought after. Thus, it may be true that players who attend college in fact earn more money over their entire career than those that go for the quick buck. To use the examples on page 47, Shane Battier has established himself as a role player and most likely will make millions of dollars a season until well into his thirties. However, once Tyson Chandler loses the advantages of youth, will he be of any use to an NBA team?

                                Though I have small quibbles with the economic questions addressed, the overall quality of the article is first-rate. This is exemplified in the legal section, which gives perhaps the best analysis of relevant labor and antitrust law as it applies to sports. McCann is correct -- the 2nd Circuit's decision in Clarett may well decide the fate of a proposed NBA age limit. As I stated in this earlier post, I believe the collectively-bargained rule could be viewed as including players not yet eligible for the draft. Yes, there is an exclusion, but the exclusion is only temporary, and it does not prevent anyone from playing in the NBA. There is also a strong slippery slope argument -- if the NBA cannot set an age limit at 20, how can it require that players finish high school before they are drafted? There appears to be no need for a high school diploma in the NBA; thus, how does such a requirement not violate antitrust laws? If Freddy Adu can play professional soccer at 14, what is to stop a high school junior from declaring for the draft?

                                Many of these issues will be resolved over the next few years, and the impact on professional sports could be great. While McCann's article does not definitively answer any of the key questions, it provides a useful framework for analysis and shows that the leagues will face substantial obstacles in limiting the eligibility of potential players.
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                                Originally posted by Blzer
                                Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                                If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

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